home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Monster Media 1993 #2
/
Image.iso
/
internet
/
cld9z003.zip
/
CLD9A003.TXT
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-06-13
|
155KB
|
2,872 lines
Archive-name: disney-faq/part1a
Last-modified: 11 Jun 1993
Frequently Asked Questions List For rec.arts.disney, part 1
Version 2.0, last revised June 11, 1993
This document is Copyright (c) 1993, by Tom Tanida. It is intended
for public use, and may be redistributed freely in its original form.
This is part one of the FAQ file for rec.arts.disney. I have tried to
include the questions and threads which arise most often, as well as some
interesting facts. Most of the information came from articles posted to
rec.arts.disney since July 1990, about the time the group was started,
although I'm missing quite a few articles from early on. Other information
came from various books and magazines. Your input to this list is highly
appreciated.
The purpose of this list is to reduce the number of redundant
questions posted to rec.arts.disney and to provide a source of information
to Disney fans worldwide. Personally, however, I would invite discussion
of questions included in this list if this list is not complete enough.
For example, one of the questions lists the voices of popular Disney
characters and where to find more info, but if the character is not listed
here, I would still encourage you to post and ask, especially if the
character is more obscure. Also, I couldn't possibly write the "complete
guide to taking kids to the Disney Theme Parks" because there is no truly
complete guide (not to mention the fact that there are many good guide
books out there). So although I have offered some information and advice
in part two of this list (the information which is most commonly
suggested), I would still welcome discussion of the topic since everybody
has their own opinions about what rides to go on, what to see, when to go,
what restaurants to eat at in the area, etc.
Again, I hope that this list will reduce the amount of redundant
information posted to the net. Even more strongly, I hope this list will
provide a unified source of information about Disney related material and
provide a valuable reference for all.
This is part one of the list, consisting of general topics and
questions, as well as some time critical information. Part two of the
list, which is contained in a separate article, contains topics and
questions related to the theme parks, as well as miscellaneous trivia.
There are three sections:
I. A list of the questions in this part
II. Answers to General Questions
III. Answers to Questions with Time-critical
Information
Send comments, corrections, suggestions, and inside information to:
tanida@esosun.css.gov. I am sure that no matter how long I work on this
that it will never be perfect, but it doesn't hurt to try. :-) If you
prefer Compuserve access, I'm at 76655,344. On Prodigy I'm xgsn74a. On
America Online, I'm TomTanida. On the Sierra Network, I'm at mailbox 2173.
If you would like to reach me by phone, my day number is (619)-546-6118.
The most reliable way to reach me is via Internet, then Compuserve.
If you would like a PostScript version of this document, which has
much better formatting, feel free to send me a request; I can either mail
it to you, or we can find a mutual FTP site. The standard text version of
this FAQ, like all FAQs cross-posted to news.answers, is archived at
rtfm.mit.edu. For information regarding how to FTP to rtfm.mit.edu, send
me e-mail; I've written a quick tutorial. This document was originally
created in MS Word For Windows 2.0.
Note: the Disneyland FAQ is available from me or its maintainer, Walt
Hoffman (whoffman@ganymede.jpl.nasa.gov), and via FTP from rtfm.mit.edu in
pub/usenet/news.answers/disney-faq.
Section I- Questions
General questions:
0) Some information about rec.arts.disney
1) What are the Disney animated feature films? Which of the films have
been released on videocassette?
2) Where can I get a copy of {Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp, other hard to
find video(s)}?
2b) Can I get Song of the South in the US? Why doesn't Disney release this
in the US?
3) Where can I get Disney-related GIF (JPEG, etc.) pictures?
4) What are serigraph cels? Are they "real" cels?
5) What art galleries sell Disney cels?
6) To what degree are computers being used in Disney animated films today?
6b) Since computers are being used quite a bit in Disney films now, does
that mean there are no "genuine" cels from the movies?
7) I heard that Walt Disney is in cryogenic suspension. Is this true?
8) Who did the voice of {Ariel, Belle, my favorite Disney character}?
9) How do I get a job working for Disney?
10) Is Goofy a dog, a horse, or what?
11) How can I get the song lyrics to {The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the
Beast, etc.}?
12) What are the Magic Kingdom Club benefits?
13) What are the stockholder benefits?
14) What is Club 33?
15) What are the names of Ariel's sisters in The Little Mermaid?
16) What are the Disney Stores?
17) Who are the "nine old men"?
18) Who are the current Disney animators?
19) Where can I get the movie poster for {Beauty and the Beast, other
Disney movie}?
20) Where can I find a particular Disney book? How can I find an original
version of a book that Disney adapted into a movie?
21) I remember a scene from Peter Pan where Tinkerbell is dying (having
borne the brunt of the explosion from Captain Hook's trick present to
Peter), and the audience is asked to clap to bring her back to life.
Why isn't it on the Disney video?
22) What was the first Disney film ever to receive a PG rating?
23) What are some "in-jokes" in the Disney films?
24) Commonly used Disney terms and abbreviations on the Internet
25) Who does the voice of the singing merchant at the beginning of the film
Aladdin?
99) Where can I get more Disney info?
- Includes books, publications, computer services, phone numbers, and
addresses
Timely information:
1) What Disney shows/auctions/events are coming up?
2) What are some of the upcoming movie and video releases from the Walt
Disney Studios?
Section II - Answers to General Questions
0) Some information about rec.arts.disney
rec.arts.disney is a Usenet newsgroup, distributed via the Internet
worldwide to an estimated 33,000 readers. It is for the discussion of all
things Disney-related, including the movies, the theme parks, books, and
television shows. The group was created around May 1990, and the traffic
has gradually increased to around 2.5 Mb of articles per month.
1) What are the Disney animated feature films? Which of the films have
been released on videocassette?
Here is the *official* list, numbered and listed in chronological
order. Other notable Disney films with Disney animation are included after
the list. The factors in what constitutes an "animated feature film" are
the amount of screen time with animation on it, the total length of the
film, the quality of the animation, and what kind of a mood the person at
the Disney studios is in when they make the decision. With each film, I
have made some notes regarding video release, Academy Awards, and other
trivia.
1) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (12/21/1937) - Granted a special Academy
Award for screen innovation in 1938. This is going to be
re-released into the theaters in the U.S. in the summer of 1993.
This film also has the distinction of being the only animated
feature film owned by Walt Disney's family, not by the Company,
which could impede its release on video.
2) Pinocchio (02/07/1940) - Released on video (US) in 1986, and re-released
in the US in early 1993. Won the Oscar for Best Song ("When You
Wish Upon a Star"), and Best Original Score.
3) Fantasia (11/13/1940) - Released on video and LaserDisc (US) in 1991 and
will not be re-released on video in its original form. The
Academy granted a special award to Leopold Stokowski for
"widening the scope of the motion picture as entertainment and as
an art form" in 1941. The music was conducted by Leopold
Stokowski, and the narrator was Deems Taylor. Fantasia was
re-released in 1982 with an Irwin Kostal conducted soundtrack and
narration by Hugh Douglas, but was subsequently restored.
4) Dumbo (10/23/1941) - Released on video (US) in 1986. Based upon the
serial number on the cassette, this was the first of the animated
films to have been released on video. Won an Oscar for "Scoring
of a Musical Picture" in 1941.
5) Bambi (08/13/1942) - Released on video (US) in 1988. Also released on
LaserDisc. (This is the animated with the fewest lines of
dialog.)
6) Saludos Amigos (02/06/1943)
7) The Three Caballeros (02/03/1945) - Released on video (US) in 1988 (?).
This is somewhat of a sequel to Saludos Amigos.
8) Make Mine Music (08/15/1946) - Almost like a second Fantasia, but
featuring more popular music in 10 shorter sequences, which lack
the depth that Fantasia had. The excellent 'Clair De Lune'
sequence in this film was originally intended to be included in
Fantasia. It also included "Casey at the Bat." Parts of this
film have been released separately on video, under the titles
"Willie, the Operatic Whale" and "Peter and the Wolf". This film
was never reissued in its original form.
9) Fun and Fancy Free (09/27/1947) - Contained the two stories "Mickey and
the Beanstalk" and "Bongo," each of which have been recently
released on video.
10) Melody Time (05/27/1948) - Some miscellaneous stories, including: a
story based on Johnny Appleseed; "Little Toot" (a tugboat);
"Blame It On the Samba", featuring Donald Duck and Jose Carioca
from The Three Caballeros; and "Bumble-Boogie," a jazz version of
Flight of the Bumblebee. This film was somewhat of a sequel to
Make Mine Music, and also was never re-released in its original
form.
11) The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (10/05/1949) - Released on video
as separate short films, under the titles "The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow" and "The Wind in the Willows."
12) Cinderella (02/15/1950) - Released on video (US) in 1988. It has been
said that this was Walt Disney's favorite film.
13) Alice in Wonderland (07/28/1951) - Released on video (US) in 1988 (?).
Also released on LD.
14) Peter Pan (02/05/1953) - Released on video (US) in 1989. Also released
on LD.
15) Lady and the Tramp (06/22/1955) - Released on video (US) in 1987.
16) Sleeping Beauty (01/29/1959) - Released on video (US) in 1987.
17) 101 Dalmatians (01/25/1961) - Released on video (US) in April, 1992.
18) The Sword in the Stone (12/25/1963) - Released on video (US) in 1988
(?).
19) The Jungle Book (10/18/1967) - Released on video (US) in 1991. Also
released on LD. This was the last film that Walt Disney worked
on, as he died prior to its release.
20) The Aristocats (12/24/1970)- Never released on video.
21) Robin Hood (11/08/1973) - Released on video (US) in 1986; re-released
on video and LD in 1991.
22) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (03/11/1977) - This was a
compilation of the three stories "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey
Tree" (1966), "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day" (1969), and
"Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too" (1974). All of these have been
individually released on video.
23) The Rescuers (06/22/1977)- This film was the last that was developed by
the original (Walt) generation of Disney lead animators. It was
very successful in Europe during it's initial release. It is
currently available on video, and should be out on LD
(non-letterboxed) shortly.
24) The Fox and the Hound (07/10/1981)- At one time the film was stated by
Disney publicists to be the 20th, then the 25th animated feature
film. The first major effort by the "new generation" of Disney
artists.
25) The Black Cauldron (07/24/1985)- This was the first film to be released
in 70mm since Sleeping Beauty. Roy E. Disney, Walt's nephew,
returned to the studios to contribute to the screenplay. The
film suffered from delays and a then record-cost of $25 million.
26) The Great Mouse Detective (07/02/1986) - Score by Henry Mancini. This
was released on video during the summer of 1992.
27) Oliver and Company (11/18/1988)- Made $54M in it's initial release,
which at the time was the highest box-office gross of any
animated film in its first theatrical run.
28) The Little Mermaid (11/17/1989) - Released on video (US) in 1990; also
available on LD. Won the Academy Awards for Best Original Score,
and Best Song ("Under the Sea"). Grossed $89M in its initial US
release.
29) The Rescuers Down Under (11/10/1990) - Nationally released on 11/23/90.
Released on video and LD (US) in 1991. Disney's first official
animated sequel. Grossed around $28M in its initial US release.
30) Beauty and the Beast (11/15/1991) - Was nationally released on 11/23/91
and was released on video in the US at the end of October, 1992.
Cost $30 million to produce. It won the Academy Awards for Best
Original Score, and Best Song (title track), and was the first
animated film to be nominated for Best Picture. In the first 42
weeks of its US release, this film grossed $144.725 million, and
sold 1 million copies of the video nationwide by the end of its
first day of release (10/30/92). A letterboxed LD version of
this is due September 25, 1993.
31) Aladdin (11/11/1992). Was nationally released on 11/25/92. This
features songs by the late Howard Ashman. The score was done by
Alan Menken. Since Ashman passed away before this film was
completed, Tony Award winner Tim Rice was hired to complete some
songs for the film. Ashman wrote the lyrics to the songs Arabian
Nights, Friend Like Me, and Prince Ali. Rice wrote the lyrics to
One Jump Ahead, A Whole New World, and Prince Ali (reprise).
This film reportedly cost $35 million to produce. Aladdin won
two Academy Awards, one for Best Song (A Whole New World) and one
for Best Original Score.
32) The Lion King (summer 1994)- Tim Rice and Elton John are working on the
soundtrack for this film, set in Africa and telling the story of
a young lion cub who finds himself awkwardly thrown into a new
role as "king" of the jungle.
33) Pocahontas (late 1994)- Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz are working on
the soundtrack for this film.
Here are some notable films and shorts that didn't make the Disney studio's
official list. Because of space constraints, many shorts have been
omitted.
Ferdinand the Bull (1938) - Released on video with "Willie, the Operatic
Whale."
The Reluctant Dragon (06/20/1941) - Released on video. This title was
originally conceived and released as a feature length film with a
combination of live-action and animated sequences including a
short story called "Baby Weems." The video version includes just
the sequences related to the Reluctant Dragon story.
Victory Through Air Power (07/17/1943)
Song of the South (11/02/1946) - This has been released on video in Europe
and Japan. It won an Oscar for Best Song ("Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah").
In addition, a special award was given to James Baskett for his
role as Uncle Remus.
So Dear To My Heart (01/19/49) - Features Bobby Driscoll, who was the child
actor in Song of the South, and who had provided the voice of
Peter Pan. Set in 1903, it has much of the style of Song of the
South in its mix of live-action and animation. It was released
on video in the US in early October, 1992.
Lambert, the Sheepish Lion (1952) - Released on video as a Mini-Classic
with "Willie, the Operatic Whale."
Mary Poppins (08/27/64) - Nominated for Best Picture. An interesting and
ironic story is that Julie Andrews originated the lead role in
the Broadway version of My Fair Lady, but lost the part to Audrey
Hepburn for the 1964 screen version. Andrews was subsequently
cast as the lead in Mary Poppins, her first movie, for which she
won Best Actress. Audrey Hepburn was not even nominated that
year, although My Fair Lady won 8 Oscars that year, including
Best Picture, beating out Mary Poppins for that award. Mary
Poppins also won for Best Song ("Chim-Chim-Cher-ee"), Best Score,
Film Editing, and Special Visual Effects. This was released on
video in 1986.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (10/07/71) - Won an Oscar for Special Visual
Effects. This has been released on video.
Pete's Dragon (11/03/77) - Released on video in 1991.
The Small One (1978) - A short film directed by Don Bluth.
Tron (1982)- Significant for its use of computer graphics and effects.
This was released to the rental markets on video some time ago.
Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) - Available on video.
Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore (1983) - Available on video.
The Brave Little Toaster (1988) - Released on video in 1991. The animation
for this was done by Hyperion Pictures, not Disney.
DuckTales: The Movie (1990) - Released on video. Although full length,
this isn't included because it did not meet "classic" animation
standards (whatever that means).
The Prince and the Pauper (11/23/1990) - This was released in the theaters
with The Rescuers Down Under. It was released on video in 1991.
Many films have been released in Japan and elsewhere on LaserDisc, and
such versions can be obtained via US dealers. Films in this category
include: Lady and the Tramp, Song of the South, Dumbo, Sword in the Stone,
Peter Pan, and Mary Poppins (in letterboxed format). Here are a couple of
dealers who may carry these titles:
Laser Land
1035 S. Saratoga-Sunnyvale Rd.
Campbell, CA
(408)-253-3733 (San Francisco Bay Area)
Laser & Video
8780 Warner Avenue #9
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(800)-342-9715 (mention you're looking for an import disc)
Ken Crane's
(714)-892-2283
2) Where can I get a copy of {Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp, other hard to
find video(s)}?
In general, the "premium" Disney animated feature films are released
for a limited time. Like The Little Mermaid, that "limited time" may be a
matter of two years and 8.5 million copies, but after Disney decides to
stop taking orders and all the copies are sold, they are not replenished.
The only way to get the videos are: to search smaller, more obscure video
stores that might have some left over; to buy from somebody who has one and
is willing to sell (check out your favorite Disneyana convention- there are
often sellers there); to buy one from a used video store where somebody, by
some offbeat chance, has sold it to the store; to buy one from a place that
rents videos, and has multiple copies of the video you want (you might have
to negotiate with the owner); or to rent it and keep it and take the
extraordinarily high charge and whatever other penalty video stores dole
out for people who don't return their videos. It might be hard to find a
good copy of an older film.
Films known to be out of print: Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and
the Tramp, Cinderella, Fantasia (which is getting scarce), Peter Pan, and
The Little Mermaid. The Jungle Book is on moratorium. Pinocchio is due to
be re-released in March 1993. Beauty and the Beast will go on moratorium
April 2. 101 Dalmatians and The Great Mouse Detective are due to go on
moratorium within a few months.
In the January 22, 1993 issue of Entertainment Weekly, on page 65
there is an article about out of print cartoon videos. Mentioned in the
article is Norman Scherer, owner of the Video Oyster in New York, who finds
hard to find videos for you. He has a catalog; call (212)-480-2440. He is
quotes as saying that some parents paid up to $200 for a copy of The Little
Mermaid, and the article gives $85 as the going rate for Lady and the
Tramp. The Little Mermaid can be found at most Disneyana collectors shows
for around $50.
Will Disney re-release the movies? It's all up to speculation. Some
contemplate a video re-release every 7 years or so, like the movies
themselves into the theaters; I've heard "official" Disney sources say
"never again," but similar sources have said that Fantasia would never be
released onto video, and that became the best selling video and LaserDisc
of all time. Pinocchio is being re-released onto video, but due to a poor
showing in the theaters, Disney is withholding the re-release of Sleeping
Beauty. Only time will tell.
2b) Can I get Song of the South in the US? Why doesn't Disney release this
in the US?
Song of the South is not available in standard, NTSC VHS format in the
US. You can obtain it in the US as a Japanese import LD from any LD dealer
that sells imported LDs, or as a PAL VHS tape overseas.
It is widely believed that the primary reason Disney will not release
the film in the US is their concern over the racial stereotyping of blacks
as slaves in the film. This policy could change in the future.
3) Where can I get Disney-related GIF (JPEG, etc.) pictures?
Disney considers it a violation of copyright to distribute images into
a publicly accessible place. It is legal, however, to create images for
your own personal use.
There are many Disney GIFs floating around, but there isn't any
official way to get them. Here are some common methods, however:
Internet FTP- There isn't any "official" site for Disney GIFs. Many GIFs
sites have some in their collection. tezuka.rest.ri.cmu.edu
(128.2.209.227) has quite a few GIFs dedicated to the Disney
Afternoon. garfield.catt.ncsu.edu (152.1.43.23; GIFs, Disney
related text files) is a good source for other Disney GIFs.
There are also some GIFs located at atbmac1.larc.nasa.gov
(128.155.18.23), in pub/graphics, thanks to Phillip Morris,
p.e.morris@larc.nasa.gov. There are also a few at
wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4), although you might have to
search. If you know of others, please send me their name (and IP
address, if you have it), and I'll mention them here.
alt.binaries.pictures - This newsgroup will carry uuencoded versions of
GIFs. The biggest problem with finding and distributing is that
not all news sites carry this group.
Compuserve- Compuserve has several graphics forums that carry Disney GIFs.
One is the FLORIDA forum, which has a couple of Disney-dedicated
sections. Use the Graphics File finder (go GRAPHFF) to find any
others in the Graphics forums. Connect time on Compuserve is
$8.00/hour at 2400 baud, and $16.00/hour at 9600 baud. Any
images on Compuserve must have approval from the Walt Disney
Company before they can be made available for download.
Disney Software has a section in GAMBPUB. In their library,
they have software demos and pictures.
America On-Line- On March 4, AOL pulled its Disney GIFs after being
contacted by a Disney representative.
The Disney Software BBS - The Disney Software bulletin board, run by
Disney. It's number is: (818)-567-4027. There are some images
and animations available there. This BBS is primarily for the
support of Disney Software, but also includes general Disney
info. Settings are N81, 300-9600 bps. It supports the ANSI BBS
protocol.
4) What are serigraph cels? Are they "real" cels?
Serigraph cels (also called "sericels") are not real cels. The
serigraph process involves creating a master cel by hand and then using a
serigraph machine, which lays down the colors, to make copies. It is a
normal art process (meaning that serigraphs are "art"), but in general, I
wouldn't invest in serigraphs hoping to make huge amounts of money like
those who deal with real cels. In fact, the Dec/Jan 1993 issue of
Storyboard mentions that people who have tried to sell their serigraphs and
other limited editions find that galleries typically offer around half of
the original retail price. The current rate for Disney serigraphs is $250
for "limited-editions" of 2500 pieces. They are generally unnumbered.
Disney has also released a line of hand-painted cels and backgrounds,
around the price of $2000-3000 each. These too are NOT cels- they are
painted by artists in the Disney Studio Art Program. These are *numbered*-
i.e. you can see a number on the cel that looks like "322/500", which means
that the one you are looking at is number 322 out of an edition size of
500. Some of the releases in this program include: a scene from Fantasia
(Ben Ali Gator holding the Hyacinth Hippo aloft); a excellent Lady and the
Tramp (Lady and the Tramp at the spaghetti table); a scene from Pinocchio
(the Blue Fairy looking at both Jiminy Cricket and Pinocchio on Gepetto's
bench); a scene from 101 Dalmatians (Pongo, Perdita, and puppies watching
TV). Only the cels are hand-painted; the backgrounds are lithographed
(reproduced). There are others as well.
Here is a description of the different cel types sold by the Disney
Art Program taken from a brochure on Disney animation art from the
Disneyana store on Main Street at Disneyland:
Production Cels - Original production cels are colorful paintings on
acetate, created by studio artists, then photographed and actually used in
a film or television program action sequence. Disney Art Editions offers
these one-of-a-kind cels taken from more recent feature films and
television programs.
Hand-Inked-Line Limited-Edition Cels - Since few production cels from
earlier animated features and shorts exist, Disney recreates cels of the
most classic moments in limited editions. Hand-inked-line cels are made
using traditional animation techniques, exactly as the production cels were
originally made for so many classic Disney films. This includes tracing an
animation drawing onto acetate by hand with different color inks and hand-
painting it with gum or acrylic-based colors formulated exclusively in
Disney laboratories. The work is done by a small cadre of Disney artists
who have kept this almost-forgotten art alive. Some hand-inked-line cels
are also combined with backgrounds.
Xerographic-Line Limited-Edition Cels - Xerographic-line cels, instead
of being hand-inked, are created by transferring the original animation
drawing to the acetate cels by a special six-step xerographic process, a
refinement pioneered by Walt Disney Studios in the late 1950s. 101
Dalmatians was the first feature film to be created entirely with this
revolutionary process. Many of the cels are then enhanced with hand-inked
lines before being painted with Disney colors and combined with a
lithographic background.
Serigraph Cels - Serigraph cels, or sericels, recreate images of
Disney's famed cast of characters. To produce a sericel, Disney artists
create a hand-inked, hand-colored painting or model of Disney characters,
which is then transferred to the acetate cel by a silk-screen printing
process known as serigraphy.
Notes from the brochure glossary:
Cel: An outline, or line drawing, of a character and sometimes
certain special effects, either hand-inked or xerographically transferred
onto a clear sheet of cellulose acetate. The image is then painted on the
back side of the sheet. Cels are mostly in two standard sizes: a 12-field,
about 12 by 10 inches; or 16-field, approximately 16 by 12 inches.
Background: A painting of a scene to be used as a background for the
animated action. Thousands of cels may be photographed over a single
background to create one scene in an animated film. A production
background is one actually used in a film.
Cel Set-Up: One or more cels overlaid on a background.
Animation Drawing: A pencil drawing on animation paper, created by
the animator and used as the basis for an image on a cel.
Storyboard Drawing: A drawing or story sketch made for the
storyboard, which conveys visually the original plot and action. The
storyboard serves as a preliminary guide for those working on the film.
Publicity Cel: A cel not actually used in a film, but created instead
solely for publicity or promotional purposes.
Limited-Edition Cel: A cel created specifically for the collector
market in a pre-determined quantity.
Model Sheets: Drawings of a grouping of characters or a single
character in a variety of attitudes and expressions, create as a reference
guide for animators.
5) What art galleries sell Disney cels?
Before I give you the list, I'll say a few words of advice about cel
collecting that echoes what many people have said on rec.arts.disney over
the years (or months): Buy only what you like. Don't get caught up in
"auction fever." Many cels may not be worth close to their asking price.
Make sure you check the condition of the cel closely. Cels that involve
popular scenes and characters, and have good views of the characters (e.g.
frontal view, both eyes showing) will be worth more. Shop around.
Negotiate.
There are several types of cel set-ups available (listed here in rough
order of cost, from cheapest to most expensive): Full reproductions (e.g.
serigraphs, or hand-painted reproductions, such as those discussed in
question #3); actual movie cels with no backgrounds; actual movie cels with
lithographed (reproduced backgrounds); and actual movie cels with real
backgrounds.
Some galleries also carry drawings, storyboards, etc.
There are actually quite a few galleries. Many are owned by people
who are simply interested in the field, like you and me; they're not
necessarily "big time" operations. Here is a list I've drawn up (by no
means complete). I've only listed phone numbers so that you can call and
get information regarding addresses/catalog pricing/etc. Many places have
free catalogs. I personally can't vouch for any of them, as I haven't
ordered anything except catalogs from any of these places (you might just
want to post to rec.arts.disney, and see what others who have had
experience buying cels might suggest). I welcome additions to this list.
Gallery Phone
All American (800)-872-8850 (Fair Lawn, NJ)
Collectibles
Animation Alley (800)-772-8666, (714)-776-8666 (Anaheim, CA)
Animation Art (215)-925-2009 (Philadelphia, PA)
Resources
The Animation (416)-928-2357
Celection
Animation (818)-988-7706 (Los Angeles, CA)
Collectible
Center
Animation Source (203)-776-7111 (New Haven, CT)
ArtWorks (800)-535-5070 (Alexandria, VA)
C.A. Brooks (516)-487-3556 (New York, NY)
Animation Art
The Cartoon Art (800)-245-6633 (Indian Wells, CA)
Store
Cartoon Galleria (800)-767-0928 (Sacramento, CA)
Cartoon Kingdom (609)-243-9960 (Princeton, NJ)
The Cel Block (800)-334-8799 (New Hope, PA)
Circle Gallery (several branches, including the Disneyland Hotel
complex)
Cricket Gallery (800)-BUY-CELS (Atlanta, GA)
Collector's (818)-785-4080 (Studio City, CA)
Paradise
Film Art Galleries (516)-935-8493 (Old Bethpage, NY)
Gallery C (919)-828-3165 (Raleigh, NC)
Gallery In Motion (800)-788-0445 (Kansas City, MO)
Gallery Lainzberg (800)-553-9995 (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Howard Lowery (818)-972-9080 (Burbank, CA)
Leslie Brooks (718)-279-3861 (Little Neck, NY)
Lewis Gallery (805)-584-8462 (Simi Valley, CA)
Lynne Novick (609)-653-0770 (Linwood, NJ)
Magic Moments (603)-883-9770, (603)-888-3457 (Nashua, NH)
Marina Fine Arts (310)-305-7678 (Marina Del Rey, CA)
Mike Cluff's (805)-927-1250 (Cambria, CA)
M.j.Manfred (412)-561-6665 (Pittsburgh, PA)
Mostly Art (203)-348-6270 (Stamford, CT)
One-Of-A-Kind (404)-377-3333 (Decatur, GA)
Cartoon Art
Optimum Arts (707)-864-5709 (event recording), (707)-864-2132
(voice)
Phillips (212)-570-4830 (New York, NY)
Collectibles
Reel Characters (201)-628-8714 (Wayne, NJ)
Gallery
Russ Wolkoff (818)-752-1755 (Los Angeles, CA)
San Francisco (800)-8DAFFY8, (415)-441-8900 (S.F., CA)
Animated Art,
Inc.
Saturday Morning (518)-482-5405
Animation
Scott & Leslie's (714)-538-6893 (Orange, CA)
Seaside Art (919)-441-5418 (Nags Head, NC)
Silver Stone (310)-598-7600 (Long Beach, CA)
Gallery
Sir Issac Gallery (703)-834-1288 (Herndon, VA)
Stabur Corp. (800)-346-8940, (313)-425-7940 (Livonia, MI)
Stay Tooned Gallery (708)-382-2357 (Barrington, IL), (708)-234-3231
(Lake Forest, IL)
Suspended Animation (407)-934-7683 (Walt Disney World Vacation Village)
Sweatbox Art (408)-225-9698 (San Jose, CA)
Toon Dude (818)-883-9056 (Tarzana, CA)
Toys To Go (215)-649-2555, (215)-649-8444 (Ardmore, PA)
Vintage Animation (213)-393-8666 (Santa Monica, CA)
Gallery
Cels are also sold at the Disney theme parks. Serigraphs and cels are
sold at the Disney Stores (see question #14). The Disney Store was selling
a line of production cels with reproduced backgrounds from The Little
Mermaid.
Archive-name: disney-faq/part1b
Last-modified: 11 Jun 1993
6) To what degree are computers being used in Disney animated films today?
There seems to be a lot of confusion on this issue, partly because
Disney seems to be trying to remain at least a little secretive about the
exact processes they use. But here's some information obtained and
consolidated from various sources, including the periodical Computer
Graphics World and some reference books on Disney animation and computer
graphics. By far, CAPS holds the greatest mystery; it has won awards for
its innovative capabilities, yet nobody except Disney knows a lot about it
(and they aren't talking).
Much of the computer graphics rendering work is done by the artists at
Disney's Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) department in Glendale, CA.
There were 14 animators and software engineers there for the production of
Beauty and the Beast (they're listed in the credits).
Computers are used for several different purposes in Disney animation.
One purpose is to process the colorization of the "cels" (I put that in
quotes because while there still are pre-production cels, they don't look
like the final product- more on this in a moment). Another purpose for
computers is for the generation of backgrounds. A third purpose is for the
generation of certain types of animated objects. A fourth purpose is for
simple modeling. There are probably others. Remember that the ultimate
goal of any computer system, of course, is to increase the efficiency and
creativity of its users by reducing or eliminating as much of the
redundant, "grunt" work as possible.
The colorization and compositing of the characters is the most notable
use, as it represents the biggest change in the state of the art of Disney
animation. In the original process, the animators would draw an image on
paper to be transferred onto a cel by an inker, who would pass the cel on
to be carefully colored by hand. In general, consecutive cels would use
the same colors (i.e. although a particular character wouldn't always be
the same color during the entire film depending on light and shadow, or
other Disney magic, the next frame of animation is often times very similar
to the frame before it). This represented a lot of redundancy.
An aside: note that after Sleeping Beauty, however, Disney animators
drew on paper, frame by frame, and had their drawings transferred to cels
via a xerography process (rather than via an inker) to be individually
colored. Also note that cel coloring was applied to the back of the cel,
not the front.
With modern computer graphics, this process can be eliminated,
speeding up the rate of output significantly. The title for the new system
is CAPS, which stands for "Computerized Animation Production System."
Animators' drawings are transferred directly to a computer, where the
computer colors the image based on color models. This is not an automatic
process, but a given palette can be repeatedly applied by the computer
artist far more quickly than an artist can color a bunch of cels by hand.
The last scene from The Little Mermaid (Ariel and Eric kissing) used the
process. Most, if not all, of The Rescuers Down Under, and all of Beauty
and the Beast used the process. This is *not* to say there is no coloring
of cels; models are needed for the computer. In addition, there is still
quite a bit of cleanup work done by hand- including the process of
transferring animators' original drawings onto clean sheets of paper to be
scanned into the CAPS system. There is some final cleanup that is done via
computer to make sure all is well and perfect with each individual image.
There are other advantages of the process as well. Since the images
are effectively digitized in a computer, they can be manipulated and merged
at will. The impressive multiplane (3D) effect at the opening of Beauty
and the Beast, where the camera travels through a forest past an animated
waterfall took advantage of the CAPS process; in the past, a multiplane
effect would be difficult at best. For example, the final scene in the
"Ave Maria" sequence from Fantasia, involved building a horizontal camera
crane, moving the camera along a track "through" panes of glass on which
the images of the forest, cathedral, and sunburst at the end, with the
panes of glass being yanked out of the way when they became out of focus.
Since then, multiplane techniques have improved, but none of these is as
easy as simply using a computer to move and blur images in pseudo-3D space.
Other advantages of CAPS include: the ability to easily blur images that
are "out of focus" relative to the camera position, to blend (e.g. the
blush on Belle's cheeks) and to intricately shade the characters (e.g.
Belle and the Beast dancing in the ballroom- you were watching them, not
the spinning background, right? :-) ); and to combine images of different
sizes seamlessly (i.e. you can draw the image at any size and
enlarge/shrink to fit as necessary).
Other miscellaneous benefits include access to a wider range of
colors (if you've used any 24-bit color computer paint/DTP program on a
Mac or PC, you can see how this works- you get 16.7 million exact colors
versus whatever number you can come up with just mixing paint), and the
coloring of the lines that border the characters. Note the black lines
that border the characters in films after Sleeping Beauty: a Xerox
process was used that introduced this. This was something that annoyed
Walt Disney when it was introduced, but it helped speed up the production
rate. Later, the studio experimented with different toner types, and was
able to reduce the boldness of the lines. Also, exact color matching can
be easily achieved, as a color is represented by a 24 or 32-bit recordable
numeric value. An example of this would be how Jasmine's shadow matches
the non-moving shadows of the trees in her garden, in Aladdin.
Another significant use of computers is the generation of backgrounds.
Although 99% of the backgrounds are painted (and colored) by hand (and then
entered into the CAPS system), there are some notable exceptions. (Note
that for a background, it's not necessarily better to color by computer
since an artist can paint with a brush just as well, if not better, and
there isn't a lot of redundancy since the same background is repeatedly
used; incidentally, there were 1300 background created by 14 artists for
Beauty and the Beast.) The most notable exception to date is probably the
ballroom in Beauty and the Beast. The spinning ballroom sequence was first
choreographed using Wavefront Technologies software on an SGI machine, then
modeled in 3D using the Alias software and finally rendered frame by frame
using the Renderman software (probably using some form of distributed
processing, or at least rendering different images on different computers).
The animators' drawings of Belle and the Beast were then merged normally
using CAPS. In addition, a computer-rendered table was used in the "Be Our
Guest" sequence (the scene where Mrs. Potts is singing, with little tea-
cups circling her). The staircase that Ariel runs down before first seeing
Eric with Vanessa in The Little Mermaid also was generated via computer.
Yet another use of computers is for certain types of 3D objects. The
modeling and rendering process is similar to that of the Beauty and the
Beast ballroom. Some examples include: the gears in The Great Mouse
Detective during the chase scene at the climax; the carriage in The Little
Mermaid, external views of the villain's vehicle, and the Sydney opera
house in The Rescuers Down Under; the dancing forks on the cake chandeliers
in the "Be Our Guest" sequence in Beauty and the Beast.
A final, minor use of computers, would be for simple modeling. For
example, the ship at the beginning of The Little Mermaid was wireframe
modeled on computers, but was drawn by hand. I'm sure the Disney artists
have found other ways to use computers to assist them, much in the same way
they might use clay models to visualize various objects (such as the
characters themselves).
(I'd be interested in hearing about other uses, by the way. In fact,
if there's a Disney artist out there reading this who has anything to add
to this description in general... :-) )
6b) Since computers are being used quite a bit in Disney films now, does
that mean there are no "genuine" cels from the movies?
Unfortunately, the answer is that there are no more original
production cels that were used directly for on-screen images in any Disney
animated feature film after The Little Mermaid. Hand-inked cels are
created as color models during the production process, and hand-inked cels
will probably be created for the purpose of auctioning backgrounds (note:
if you look closely through the Sotheby's catalogue for the recent Mermaid
auction, it is advertised as a background auction, not a cel auction). For
the Sotheby's auction for Beauty and the Beast, Disney auctioned genuine
backgrounds with one-of-a-kind cels created by hand by Disney artists based
on the directing animator's drawings. See also question #4 for a
discussion of cel types.
7) I heard that Walt Disney is "cryopreserved"/"in cryogenic suspension."
Is this true?
No, this is an "urban legend," although a joke goes "Yes- he's in
suspended animation" :-). Walt Disney died at 9:35 am on December 15,
1966, of lung cancer. He was cremated (quite the opposite of being frozen,
ironically) and is buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.
His parents are buried there as well.
This rumor did not come about completely out of the blue, however.
Some of the reasons this rumor started were: there was a significant time
period between the time of Walt Disney's death and the public announcement
of his death; Walt himself is said to have shown an interest in cryogenics
in his final years (ref. the book Disney's World, see "Books" in question
#99, below); and even his animators have been quoted to say that it's an
interesting thought that Walt might someday return to "set things straight"
in the company.
Incidentally, Walt was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, IL,
making him just over the age of 65 when he passed away.
8) Who did the voice of {Ariel, Belle, my favorite Disney character}?
I can't include the voice of *every* Disney character here, but here
is a comprehensive list of the most popular characters. One good
reference to the Disney movies is The Disney Studio Story, by Richard
Holliss and Brian Sibley, Crown Publishers, Inc., New York, NY, 1988, ISBN
#0-517-57078-5. The most complete list, however, is the Encyclopedia of
Walt Disney's Animated Characters, by John Grant, ISBN 1-56282-904-1. (See
"Books", in question #99, below.) If you're looking for the voice of a
more obscure character, drop me a line, or just post.
This list is in approximate chronological order (by appearance).
Mickey Mouse: Walt Disney himself did the voices of both Mickey and Minnie
in the early cartoons, including "Steamboat Willie."
(Incidentally, "Plane Crazy" was Mickey's first cartoon,
"Steamboat Willie" was the first cartoon with sound.) By World
War II, Disney had fully trained and then turned over the task to
Jimmy MacDonald, who in turn trained Wayne Allwine, the current
voice of Mickey.
Minnie Mouse: Currently voiced by Russi Taylor.
Donald Duck: Initially voiced by Clarence Nash. First appeared in "The
Wise Little Hen." Nash also voiced Donald in Mickey's Christmas
Carol (1983). He is currently voiced by Tony Anselmo, as Nash
later passed away in the late '80s.
Goofy: Originally voiced by Pinto Colvig. He is currently voiced by Bill
Farmer.
Chip and Dale: Currently voiced by Tress MacNeille and Corey Burton,
respectively.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Snow White: Adriana Caselotti; Prince:
Harry Stockwell; Wicked Stepmother: Lucille La Verne; Grumpy:
Pinto Colvig
Pinocchio - Pinocchio: Dickie Jones; Jiminy Cricket: Cliff Edwards
Dumbo - Timothy: Edward Brophy; Stork: Sterling Holloway; Jim Crow: Cliff
Edwards
Bambi - Thumper: Peter Behn; Bambi's Mother: Paula Winslowe; Flower:
Sterling Holloway
Saludos Amigos, The Three Caballeros - Joe Carioca: Jose Oliveira
Make Mine Music - Willie the Whale: Nelson Eddy
Song of the South - Brer Rabbit: Johnny Lee; Brer Bear: Nicodemus Stewart;
Uncle Remus/Brer Fox: James Baskett. The boy (Johnny) was played
by a young Bobby Driscoll.
Fun and Fancy Free - ("Mickey and the Beanstalk")- Giant: Billy Gilbert
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad - Ichabod was narrated and sung by
Bing Crosby. Toad: Eric Blore; Cyril (the horse): Pat O'Malley
Cinderella - Cinderella: Ilene Woods; Prince Charming: Mike Douglas (the TV
personality/talk show host); Stepmother: Eleanor Audley; Fairy
Godmother: Verna Felton.
Alice in Wonderland - Alice: Kathryn Beaumont; White Rabbit: Bill Thompson;
Cheshire Cat: Sterling Holloway; Queen of Hearts: Verna Felton
Lambert, the Sheepish Lion (short)- Narrated by Sterling Holloway (Dumbo,
Alice In Wonderland, Jungle Book).
Peter Pan - Peter: Bobby Driscoll; Wendy: Kathryn Beaumont; Captain
Hook/Wendy's Father: Hans Conried; Mr. Smee: Bill Thompson
Lady and the Tramp - Lady: Barbara Luddy; Tramp: Larry Roberts;
Peg/Darling/Siamese Cats: Peggy Lee
Sleeping Beauty - Aurora: Mary Costa; Phillip: Bill Shirley; Maleficent:
Eleanor Audley
101 Dalmatians - Cruella DeVille: Betty Lou Gerson; Pongo: Rod Taylor;
Perdita: Cate Bauer; Roger: Ben Wright; Colonel: J.Pat O'Malley
The Sword in the Stone -Wart: Ricky Sorenson; Archimedes: Junius Matthews;
Merlin: Karl Swenson; Madame Mim: Martha Wentworth
Winnie the Pooh: Initially voiced by Sterling Holloway (who you'll see pop
up quite a bit in this list of Disney voices), who passed away in
late 1992. The first two Pooh stories (Winnie the Pooh and the
Honey Tree and Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day) were
narrated by Sebastian Cabot (The Jungle Book). Other voices:
Christopher Robin: Jon Walmsley; Tigger: Paul Winchell
The Jungle Book - Mowgli: Bruce Reitherman (son of the director, Wolfgang);
Baloo: Phil Harris; Bagheera: Sebastian Cabot; Kaa: Sterling
Holloway; Shere Khan: George Sanders; Colonel Hathi: J. Pat
O'Malley
The Aristocats - Duchess: Eva Gabor; Thomas O'Malley: Phil Harris;
Roquefort (mouse): Sterling Holloway: Scat Cat: Scatman Crothers;
title song sung by Maurice Chevalier
Robin Hood - Robin: Brian Bedford; Little John: Phil Harris (The Jungle
Book, The Aristocats); Prince John: Peter Ustinov; Sir Hiss:
Terry Thomas; Allan-a-Dale (rooster): Roger Miller; Maid Marian:
Monica Evans: Sheriff: Pat Buttram; Friar Tuck: Andy Devine; Lady
Kluck: Carole Shelley
The Rescuers - Bernard: Bob Newhart; Bianca: Eva Gabor; Madame Medusa:
Geraldine Page; Penny: Michelle Stacy; Mr. Snoops: Joe Flynn;
Orville: Jim Jordan
The Fox and the Hound -Tod: Mickey Rooney; Copper: Kurt Russell; Big Mama
(owl): Pearl Bailey
The Black Cauldron - Taran: Grant Bardsley; Eilonwy: Susan Sheridan;
Dallben: Freddie Jones; Fflewddur Fflam: Nigel Hawthorne; the
Horned King: John Hurt; Gurgi, Doli: John Byner
The Great Mouse Detective - Basil: Barrie Ingham; Dr. Dawson: Val Bettin;
Ratigan: Vincent Price
Oliver and Company - Dodger: Billy Joel; Tito (Chihuahua): Cheech Marin;
Georgette (poodle): Bette Midler; Einstein: Richard Mulligan
The Little Mermaid - Ariel: Jodi Benson; Sebastian: Samuel E. Wright;
Ursula: Pat Carroll; Eric: Christopher Barnes; Scuttle: Buddy
Hackett
The Rescuers Down Under - Bernard: Bob Newhart; Bianca: Eva Gabor; McLeach:
(the) George C. Scott; Wilbur: John Candy; Jake: Tristan Rogers;
Cody: Adam Ryen; Joanna: Frank Welker
Beauty and the Beast - Belle: Paige O'Hara; Beast: Robby Benson; Mrs.
Potts: Angela Lansbury; Luminere: Jerry Orbach; Cogsworth: David
Ogden Stiers; Gaston: Richard White; Lefou: Jesse Corti; Maurice:
Rex Everhardt; Chip: Bradley Pierce; Wardrobe: JoAnne Worley
Aladdin- Aladdin: (speaking) Scott Weinger, (singing) Brad Kane;
Genie/Trader: Robin Williams; Trader (singing): Bruce Adler;
Princess Jasmine: (speaking) Linda Larkin, (singing) Lea Salonga;
Abu, the monkey: Frank Welker; Jafar: Jonathan Freeman; Iago:
Gilbert Godfrey; Sultan: Douglas Seal
Other voices:
Huey, Dewey, and Louie, and Webbigail (DuckTales)- Russi Taylor
Darkwing Duck- Jim Cummings
Gosalyn (Darkwing Duck)- Christine Cavanaugh
Winnie the Pooh, Tigger (New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh)- Jim Cummings
Uncle Scrooge (Mickey's Christmas Carol, DuckTales): Alan Young
Roger Rabbit: Charles Fleischer
Theme parks:
Sam the Eagle (from "America Sings"): Burl Ives
Robot-Pilot from "Star Tours": Paul Reubens ("Pee-Wee Herman")
Ghost Host ("Haunted Mansion"), narrator from "Adventure Through Inner
Space": Paul Frees
Singing Statue in Haunted Mansion Graveyard (among others at Disneyland):
Thurl Ravenscroft
9) How do I get a job working for Disney?
Of course, the answer to this depends on what you want to do.
All Disney employees go through a training program which introduces
them to the Disney philosophy and some of the history of the company.
If you're looking for a summer job at Walt Disney World, consult with
"Central Casting," located near the Disney Village, where you can get an
application. Or you can write to "Professional Staffing", c/o WDW, at the
address in question #99 below. At Disneyland, go to the customer relations
desk near the fire station on Main Street. If you do get a summer job,
you'll probably be making minimum wage (and regularly shaving and getting a
hair cut if you're male, since facial hair is not allowed if you're in the
public eye- although animators at WDW seem to be an exception).
To get a job at the Disney Store, simply request a job application,
preferably from the store manager. They aren't always hiring, but like
most retailers, will hire more employees for the Christmas season. When a
new Disney Store is opened, a "Casting Call" advertisement is placed in the
local paper, and they will interview 300-400 people for 20-25 positions.
When a position becomes available, the hiring ratio is 15-20 interviews for
one Cast Member position. If you would like to work at the Disney Store,
ask for an "interest card," which lets the store know when you are
available for work and an interview. If you are called for an interview,
you will fill out a full application at that time. For more information on
what's it's like to work at the Disney Store, see question #16, below.
If you're interested in animation, you need to be talented and lucky.
It helps if you attended the California Institute of the Arts ("CalArts"),
which Walt Disney helped found, and currently has 900 students and five
schools (art, dance, music, film video, theater). I suspect Disney
currently helps to fund CalArts. (The address and phone information is
given in question #99.) If you didn't attend CalArts, some other
prestigious school of art with some animation training will probably do
(some of the animators were hired out of the University of California at
Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, and the Art Center at
Pasadena). If you do get a job as an animator, you'll probably start out
by working on "tweening" (i.e. drawing cels that lie in sequence between
the cels produced by the primary animators), so you won't have a lot of
creative freedom, and you'll probably be quite busy (i.e. working longer
than 8 hour days on a regular basis). Show promise, get noticed, and the
sky's the limit. At the very least, you get your name in the credits. :-)
An address to try writing to regarding employment opportunities with
the studios would be:
Walt Disney Studios
1400 Flower Street
Glendale, CA 91221
Job hotlines at the Walt Disney Company:
(818)-560-1811: General Employment
(818)-560-6335: Film Industry Opportunities
10) Is Goofy a dog, a horse, or what?
Goofy is a dog. He originally started life as "Dippy Dawg" early in
the history of the Disney studios, in both comic strips and short films,
but evolved into "Goofy" by 1934. He first appeared in film in 1932 (as
Dippy Dawg) in Mickey's Revue.
This begs the question "well, if Pluto is a dog too, then why don't
they act the same (e.g. why does Pluto not talk, why doesn't Goofy walk on
all fours, etc.)?" My answer to that is because that's the way Walt wanted
it. :-) Pluto is more of a pet to Mickey; Goofy is simply more
individualistic and anthropomorphised. In addition, they're both different
breeds of dog. :-) (I won't even get into the thread about how Goofy dated
Clarabelle Cow.)
11) How can I get the song lyrics to {The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the
Beast, etc}?
Some of the lyrics to The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast are
available via anonymous FTP at garfield.catt.ncsu.edu. If you can't FTP,
send me e-mail (tanida@esosun.css.gov) and I can mail them to you.
Otherwise, you can order the sheet music from the Hal Leonard
Publishing Corporation, 7777 West Bluemound Road, P.O. Box 13819,
Milwaukee, WI 53213. There is also The Illustrated Disney Song Book which
is published by Random House, Inc., of New York, NY, with the ISBN #0-394-
50745-2. It contains the lyrics (and piano music) to many of the most
popular Disney songs. There is a "New" Illustrated Disney Song Book as
well (bibliographical reference at the end of this question). Sam Goody's
Musicland tends to carry a decent selection of sheet music. The address to
the Walt Disney Music Company is given in question #99, below.
There is quite a bit of Disney music available on CD and cassette; if
there is a demand for it, I'll add a list of Disney music to this list.
Disneyland/Buena Vista Records and Tapes (Burbank, CA 92521) is the
"official" label that distributes the majority of the music.
The New Illustrated Disney Songbook, introduction by Steven Spielberg
Abrams, New York, 1986
ISBN 0-810-90846-8 (Abrams)
ISBN 0-881-88467-7 (Hal Leonard)
Notes: For voice and piano; includes chord symbols and guitar chord
diagrams. Presents in sheet music format about eighty songs from such Walt
Disney movies as "Cinderella," "Dumbo," and "Mary Poppins." 215 pages.
12) What are the Magic Kingdom Club benefits?
As a Magic Kingdom Club (MKC) member, you receive the following
benefits:
- Special offers on Theme Park admission (usually 10%- there's a price
guide), including EuroDisney and Tokyo Disneyland
- 10-30% discount on WDW resort accommodations
- Ability to take advantage of special vacation packages
- 10% discount on merchandise at The Disney Stores
- Reduced admission to Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, River Country,
and Discovery Island (at WDW), and the Queen Mary and Spruce
Goose attractions (Long Beach, CA)
- Membership in Entertainment Publications' Travel America for half
price
- Up to 30% discounts with National Car Rental
- 10% discount on Delta Air Lines tickets when traveling to the theme
parks
- 10% discount on Premier's Caribbean Cruise and Walt Disney World
Week
- 15% discount on cruises aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
- 10% discount on the Norwegian Cruise Line
- 20% nightly discounts at The Hotel Queen Mary
- 10% discount at the Paradise Guest Ranch in Wyoming
- Special Club Vacations in San Diego, CA
There are a wide variety of vacation packages to choose from, with the
prices depending on where you stay and for how long, and what time of year
you visit the theme parks.
I believe there is no charge for joining the MKC if your employer has
a group number.
You can also join as a MKC Gold Card member. You receive a
personalized, embossed Gold Card, a two-year subscription to Disney News
magazine (8 issues, worth $14.95), and a membership kit, containing a tote
bag, key chain, travel video, and 5 Disney Dollars. The price for joining
is $49 for two years. You also receive a list of toll free numbers to call
to make travel reservations.
There is also a Magic Years Club for those over 60 years of age. It
costs $35 for a 5-year membership, and has the same benefits as the
standard MKC, plus a few extras (an embossed card, tote bag, key chain,
bumper sticker, Magic Key newsletter).
The phone numbers for the MKC, MKC Gold Card, and Magic Years Club are
given in question #99, below.
13) What are the stockholder benefits?
The stockholder benefits have been discontinued for 1993. As a
stockholder, you can obtain an Magic Kingdom Club Gold Card membership for
$10 off the normal rate (see also question #12, above).
Here is the body of a letter received by Michael R. Johnston
(Ambrose@world.std.com), from Jennifer LaGrow, Manager of Shareholder
Services, regarding this issue.
***** Begin quote *****
May 10, 1993
Due to the tremendous growth in our shareholder base of almost 100
percent over the last year, and the substantially lower stock price
resulting from the four for one stock split in April 1992, it is no
longer economical for the Company to continue providing free
memberships to approximately 800,000 shareholders.
It is important that the Company be run as efficiently as possible so
that it can offer stockholders and above-average rate of return.
Disney stockholders have enjoyed a 28 percent annualized return over
the last ten years ending December 31, 1992. Over the same timeframe,
the Standard & Poor's 500 has returned just 16 percent. The Company
recently increased its quarterly cash dividend by 19 percent -- from
5.25 to 6.25 cents per share, beginning with the dividend which will
be paid on May 20, 1993.
There was a 100% increase in total shareholders, with approximately
430,000 new Disney stockholders in calendar year 1992. When we
reviewed the costs involved in providing complimentary Magic Kingdom
Club membership to these new stockholders, we determined that it would
cost close to $3 million to service these new accounts in fiscal year
1993. We estimated that is would cost the Company an additional
$600,000 in material and postage costs to provide complimentary MKC
membership in 1993 to all the Company's record and beneficial owners.
These figures do not even include the cost the Company incurs from the
various discounts given to Magic Kingdom Club members.
We also discovered that 30 percent of the Company's new 1992 record
owners (as opposed to beneficial owners of stock held in "street
name," for whom the Company does not have records) purchased only a
single share of Disney stock. We estimate that it will cost the
Company approximately $500,000 to service these one-share accounts in
fiscal year 1993. In a recent survey, approximately 10 percent of the
stockholders surveyed said that they purchased Disney stock solely to
receive shareholder benefits such as MKC membership. Since the hotel
discount offered to shareholders through the MKC membership can be as
high as $100 per night, you can see why the Company determined that it
was not economical to offer complimentary membership to its
stockholders.
Magic Kingdom Club does provide membership programs to eligible
corporations, firms and associations, although this is a separate
program and does not have any impact on the shareholder benefit
program.
***** End quote *****
If you'd like an annual report, write to:
Walt Disney Company
500 S. Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521-7320
14) What is Club 33?
Club 33 is a somewhat exclusive club located in Disneyland. It's not
really *exclusive* in the sense that anybody who is willing to wait 2-3
years on the waiting list and can afford the membership fee and annual dues
can join. To get more information, you can write to Club 33, c/o
Disneyland (Disneyland's full address is included in question #99).
Club 33 is located in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. It occupies
most of the upstairs of the buildings in that area. As you exit from
Pirates of the Caribbean, turn left. Just beyond the Blue Bayou restaurant
is a green door with the address 33. In the atrium between the One of a
Kind shop and the pirate shop is a large staircase and an elevator (behind
a door) which serve as alternate entrances. (These directions were taken
from the Disneyland FAQ.)
If you'd like a copy of the text of the brochures, which includes the
membership fees (if you have to ask, you probaby can't afford it), drop me
e-mail at tanida@esosun.css.gov.
15) What are the names of Ariel's sisters in The Little Mermaid?
Ariel's sisters are: Aquata; Andrina; Arista; Atina; Adella; Allana.
(Note the second sister is "Andrina," not "Adrina.") This information was
verified using both the songbook lyrics and the book The Little Mermaid:
Tales From Under the Sea. There has been a debate over whether or not the
spelling of Ariel's last sister is "Allana" or "Alana." The sheet music
and most of the books give it as "Allana," but the new Encyclopedia of Walt
Disney's Animated Characters lists it as "Alana." "Allana" is most likely
correct. It is not a credited voice in the movie.
16) What are the Disney Stores?
The Disney Stores are a chain of retail stores dedicated entirely to
Disney merchandise. They are located throughout the US and UK, and will
soon be opening in Japan and Europe; for the location of the one nearest
you, try calling the Disney Catalog at (800)-237-5751- there is a list in
the Disney Catalog itself. The first Disney Store opened on May 28, 1987
in Glendale, CA. As of May 1, 1993, there were 208 stores in operation,
with plans to open over 60 new stores total by the end of 1993. I've found
that the prices of certain merchandise at the stores are lower than the
prices of the same items at the theme parks.
The Disney Store model is different than an average retail store. As
you enter, the Disney Store logo is large and prevalent, usually overhead.
There are two glass cases to either side of the entrance one of which is
used for seasonal features, and the other a Disney scene portrayed by
plastic or wooden models. There are other exterior decorations, including
a line of "film" which has in each frame a Disney character, being animated
from one frame to the next. At the entrance of each store there is a
"greeter" who stands and greets entering guests (customers), and says good-
bye to departing guests.
Inside the store, around the perimeter and overhead, are various
scenes (called "Animations") which differ from store to store throughout
the country. Some scenes are from the movies; most are from cartoon shorts
or are original. Which scenes appear in which Disney Store is dependent
upon the year in which the store opened. There are usually two cash
register locations, behind which hang Disney art (cels, serigraphs, etc.).
At the back of the store is a large, laserdisc-based projection screen for
playing scenes from movies, cartoons, music videos, etc., for the purpose
of entertainment (and marketing Disney videos and soundtracks). The stores
are kept well stocked and well organized.
The Disney Store receives entirely new merchandise on a regular basis
(on average about every two to three weeks). There is a shipment of
general merchandise every week. Every couple of months or so a new
promotion with a different theme is emphasized, sometimes based on the
season, other times based on the current movie in the theaters, etc.
The employees, called Cast Members (like all Disney employees), are
trained in Disney culture, and are routinely kept up to date with current
activities at the theme parks, new programs on the Disney Channel, when new
movies and videocassettes will become available, etc. This training
program is called "Traditions," and (usually) takes place at the store,
consisting of some videos and forms. There is an internal newsletter,
called The Disney Store Scoop, and award programs for Guest Courtesy,
Teamwork, etc. that are reflected in pins. One Cast Member told me that he
received some rather substantial offers on his pins (which are not for
sale). Cast Members also attend fully paid Disney Store trips to see the
latest animated film release twice a year.
See also question #9.
17) Who were the "nine old men"?
The "nine old men" were the group of lead animators who worked closely
with Walt Disney and the Disney studios from around the mid 1940's to the
mid 1980's. The term "nine old men" was a takeoff from President Franklin
Delano Roosevelt's term for the U.S. Supreme Court justices.
The nine old men, in alphabetical order with a fraction of some of the
notable characters and movies that they contributed to, are:
Les Clark - Minnie Mouse, Mickey in Fantasia
Marc Davis - Bambi, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Cruella in 101
Dalmatians
Ollie Johnston - Dopey in Snow White, Mowgli in The Jungle Book,
Bambi, Mr. Smee from Peter Pan
Milt Kahl - Pinocchio, Robin Hood, Medusa in The Rescuers
Ward Kimball - The Three Caballeros, Captain Hook in Peter Pan,
Lucifer in Cinderella, Dwarfs in Snow White
Eric Larson - Figaro in Pinocchio, horses in Beethoven's 6th in
Fantasia
John Lounsbery - Ben Ali Gator in Fantasia, Bambi, Victory Through Air
Power
Wolfgang Reitherman - Goofy, Cinderella, Rite of Spring in Fantasia,
The Aristocats
Frank Thomas - Bambi, Sword in the Stone
These nine men worked on many of the Disney classics, from Snow White
to The Rescuers. Not all of the nine men worked on all of the movies
(although there were some movies that all of them participated in,
including Cinderella). Some of the other major animators at the Disney
studios included Ub Iwerks, Norman Ferguson, Ken Anderson, Mary Blair, Bill
Justice, Vladimir (Bill) Tytla, William Peet, and Wilfred Jackson (who was
the first director for Walt Disney).
18) Who are the current Disney animators?
Robert Cook (rcook@sdcc13.ucsd.edu) and Tim Pickett
(quetzal@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au) have created a comprehensive list of all of
the animators who have worked for Disney over the years. These Cast and
Crew lists are available via anonymous FTP at yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au
(130.194.9.1) in pub/rec.arts.disney. Please use this site outside normal
business hours (the site is 10 hours ahead of GMT- use the UNIX command
"date -u" to get the current GMT time), namely before noon US time, or on a
Friday or Saturday. Contact Tim Pickett (quetzal@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au)
for more info.
Some (but certainly not all) of the animators include:
Ruben Aquino - Ursula (The Little Mermaid); Maurice (Beauty and the
Beast)
James Baxter - Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
Randy Cartwright- Magic Carpet (Aladdin)
Lorna Cook - Contributed to Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
Andreas Deja - Mickey Mouse (Prince and the Pauper); Triton (The
Little Mermaid); Gaston (Beauty and the Beast); Jafar (Aladdin)
Russ Edmonds- Max the dog (The Little Mermaid); Cody (The Rescuers
Down Under); Philippe the horse (Beauty and the Beast)
Eric Goldberg- Genie (Aladdin)
Will Finn- Grimsby (The Little Mermaid); Cogsworth (Beauty and the
Beast); Iago the Parrot (Aladdin)
Mark Henn - Stationed in Florida. Contributed heavily to the
character development of Belle and Mrs. Potts/Chip. Was the lead
animator on Jasmine (Aladdin).
Glen Keane - Supervised The Fox and the Hound; characters include
Ratigan (The Great Mouse Detective); Ariel (The Little Mermaid);
Eagle (The Rescuers Down Under); Beast (Beauty and the Beast);
Aladdin (Aladdin). Glen Keane is the son of Bil Keane, artist of
the Family Circus comic strip.
Lisa Keene - Background artist/supervisor
Duncan Majoribanks- Sebastian (The Little Mermaid), Abu (Aladdin)
Tom Sito - Worked on layout and animated the Gaston wrestling scene in
the pub (Beauty and the Beast)
Dave Pruiksma- Bernard (The Rescuers Down Under); Mrs. Potts and Chip
(Beauty and the Beast); Sultan (Aladdin)
Nik Ranieri- Ursula (The Little Mermaid); Wilbur (The Rescuers Down
Under); Luminere (Beauty and the Beast)
Chris Wahl - Lefou (Beauty and the Beast), multiple characters
(Aladdin)
These animators led the teams that animated the characters they are
credited with. Lead animators provide many of the story and character
ideas, but I am sure that many other ideas (and a lot of hard work) come
from the animators who work for the lead animator.
19) Where can I get the movie poster for {Beauty and the Beast, other
Disney movie}?
You can try just about any movie poster dealer that deals in current
posters. Prices will vary.
Some things to know: Posters aren't easy to mail. You may need to send
the seller a mailing tube in which to hold the rolled poster.
The following list was compiled from the periodical Movie Collector's
World, published at P.O. Box 309, Fraser, MI 48026. Phone: (313)-774-
4311. You might want to get a copy (published bi-weekly at a cover price
of $2.50) to see all the ads for yourself. All of those listed here had at
least one Disney title in their advertisements. Disclaimer: I can't vouch
for any of these places personally, since I have not ordered from any of
them. As always, additions to this list are welcome.
Comic Castle 3148 Midway Drive #113, San Diego, CA 92110
(619)-222-3302 (Tu, W, Th only, 11-6 PST)
Mike Kinder P.O. Box 772198, Winter Garden, FL 34777
(904)-394-3569, after 5 PM
Mark J. Myler 3300 S. Tamarac #N101, Denver, CO 80231
(303)-368-1306
The Movie Gallery 2072 Front Street, East Meadow, NY 11554
(516)-794-0294
Pamela Banner 3409 Lake Montebello Dr., Baltimore, MD 21218-3151
(410)-235-7427 (10-6 EST M-Sa)
Poster Emporium P.O. Box 16681, Raytown, MO 64133-6681
(800)-877-7860
Richard Hubel 549 88th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
(813)-578-1236
Walls of Fame 2798 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11229
(718)-692-3200
If you do order from any of these (or other) places, I'd like to know
about your experiences (positive or negative).
Archive-name: disney-faq/part1c
Last-modified: 11 Jun 1993
20) Where can I find a particular Disney book? How can I find an original
version of a book that Disney adapted into a movie?
One way is to consult your local big-chain bookseller (B. Dalton,
Waldenbooks, BookStop, Bookstar, Crown Books, etc.). Many have listings,
although many Disney books are out of print. If the book you are looking
for is indeed out of print, your best hope is to search local used book
resellers in your area. Otherwise, the best you can do is your local
library. Incidentally, Hyperion Press is owned by Disney.
A good place to get information about books of any subject without
leaving the comfort of your UNIX machine is via the online Melvyl Catalog.
The Melvyl Catalog, accessible via Telnet, is an online card catalog
listing for every book in the vast University of California library system.
To access, try the following at your favorite UNIX prompt:
unix% telnet melvyl.ucop.edu
(You can substitute 192.35.222.222 for melvyl.ucop.edu if you don't have
domain name resolution.)
If you can FTP, you should be able to telnet. If you get a "network
inaccessible error", you probably don't have the proper access to the
outside world. If you have trouble, feel free to send me e-mail
(tanida@esosun.css.gov) and I can try to find the book you want for you.
If you can telnet, you'll be prompted for a terminal type. Use "Z99" (w/o
the quotes) as your terminal type. Then press return. From here, you can
use the online help by typing "help <subject>".
Some useful commands:
find su Disney = Finds "subject" Disney = any book with Disney as a
subject word
find pa Christopher Finch = Finds "personal author" Christopher Finch
= books written by author Christopher Finch
find tw Magic Kingdom = Finds "title words" Magic Kingdom = any books
with the words "Magic Kingdom"
Upon retrieving your results, you can use the display command:
display all review = Display all in a review format
display 10 long = Displays entry #10 in a long format (all the info-
author, title, etc.)
display 10 ISBN = Displays the ISBN number for entry #10
21) I remember a scene from Peter Pan where Tinkerbell is dying (having
borne the brunt of the explosion from Captain Hook's trick present to
Peter), and the audience is asked to clap to bring her back to life.
Why isn't it on the Disney video?
This scene never existed in the Disney version of Peter Pan. It did,
however, exist in the Mary Martin stage version, which is also available on
videocassette. The videocassette was released at about the same time the
Disney version was released, so if you don't believe me, you can rent the
play and see for yourself. :-)
22) What was the first Disney film ever to receive a PG rating?
The first film was The Black Hole, on December 21, 1979. The first
(and so far only) animated feature film to receive a PG rating was The
Black Cauldron, on July 24, 1985.
23) What are some "in-jokes" in the Disney films?
Here is what probably amounts to an incomplete list. If you find
others, drop me a line. If the list gets long enough, I can separate it
out of the FAQ.
Aladdin:
In the "One Jump Ahead" sequence, the directors, Musker and Clements,
appear. Musker has a dark mustache, the Clements has a red
beard.
Sebastian, from The Little Mermaid, appears when the Genie is pulling
items out of a recipe book just prior to granting Aladdin's first
wish.
The Genie turns his head into Pinocchio during a discussion with
Aladdin at the oasis.
When Genie turns Abu into an elephant, the magic words are "He's a
mambo shimming Dumbo."
There is a figurine of the Beast, from Beauty and the Beast, in the
stack of toys the Sultan is piling up (which are subsequently
knocked to the floor when Jafar enters), prior to the "Prince
Ali" sequence.
In the "Whole New World" sequence, Aladdin and Jasmine fly past the
gazebo from the Beethoven sequence from Fantasia.
The Genie, in the tradition of the Disney theme parks commercials,
asks Aladdin "What are you going to do next?" after he has
apparently won the heart of the princess. Also, the "When You
Wish Upon A Star" theme is played here.
Beauty and the Beast:
When Maurice reaches the crossroads just prior to arriving at the
Beast's castle for the first time, there is a street sign.
Although faded, the sign that points towards the dark, scary side
is labeled "Valencia," and the sign point towards the normal side
is labeled "Anaheim."
There is a hidden Mickey in the film, although it's location was under
debate. I'll have to check the film
Oliver and Company:
In the "Why Should I Worry" sequence, Pongo, from 101 Dalmatians, is
shown briefly, tugging at his master's leash.
101 Dalmatians:
During the "Midnight Bark" several dogs from Lady and the Tramp appear
in a pet shop window.
24) Commonly used Disney terms and abbreviations on the Internet
8(:-) = Mouseketeer smiley
ADO = Approved Day Off (for Cast Members)
BatB = Beauty and the Beast
Cast Member = An employee of the Disney Company (the term was coined by
Walt himself)
Code 101 = Ride (at theme park) out of service
Costume = Cast Member uniform
DL = Disneyland
ER = Early Release (getting off work early for a Cast Member)
FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions list (which you probably know by now)
Guest = Term for a Disney customer (e.g. at the theme parks or Disney
Stores)
MK = Magic Kingdom (referring to Disneyland's counterpart, in Florida).
Disneyland is also called The Magic Kingdom, or "Walt Disney's Magic
Kingdom".
MKC = Magic Kingdom Club (see question #12)
MSEP = Main Street Electrical Parade
O&C = Oliver and Company
On-Stage = Where a Cast Member is exposed to Guests (i.e. working)
r.a.d = rec.arts.disney
RDO = Requested Day Off (for Cast Members)
RDU = Rescuers Down Under
SotS = Song of the South
TBC = The Black Cauldron
TDS = The Disney Store(s)
TGMD = The Great Mouse Detective
TLM = The Little Mermaid
WDW = Walt Disney World (in Orlando, Florida)
25) Who does the voice of the singing merchant (the Peddler) at the
beginning of the film Aladdin?
The singing voice is done by Bruce Adler (this is credited on the
soundtrack). The talking voice of the Peddler, who gives the introduction
to the story, is Robin Williams. Originally, a sequence was planned at the
end of the film (after Aladdin and Jasmine ride off into the sunset- well,
moonrise) where the merchant was to be revealed as the Genie, but this
scene was cut.
99) Where can I get more Disney info?
Mail Order:
If you're interested in animation in general, or if you are looking
for a good place to order harder to find videos, I recommend the Whole Toon
Catalog. Call (206)-391-8747.
Books:
There are many books available about topics related to Disney, from
biographies of Walt himself, to books about the near takeover of the Disney
company in 1984, to books about Disney animation and history. Listed here
are some of the many books available related to Disney subjects, in order
by author. Many are probably out of print. Your contributions to this list
are appreciated.
Walt Disney's World of Fantasy, by Adrian Bailey; compiled and designed by
Julie & Steve Ridgeway.
Everest House, New York, 1982.
ISBN 0-896-96117-6
Covers the cinematography, animation, and special effects in the films from
the Disney studios. 252 pages.
Walt Disney's EPCOT Center, by Richard R. Beard
H.N. Abrams, New York, 1982.
ISBN 0-8109-0819-0
An excellent work on EPCOT Center, covering its inception, design, and
construction. Cover priced at $55.00.
Disneyland: The Inside Story, by Randy Bright, forward by Michael Eisner.
H.N. Abrams, New York, 1987.
ISBN 0-810-90811-5
Coverage of the history of Disneyland. Highly recommended by more than one
Disney fan on the Internet. 240 pages, including many color illustrations.
Walt Disney's Fantasia, by John Culhane
Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, NY, 1983, reprinted in 1987
ISBN 0-8109-8078-9
A discussion of Fantasia from its inception to completion. Individual
chapters deal with each of the parts of the film. 221 pages.
The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms, by
Christopher Finch
H. N. Abrams, New York, 1975
ISBN 0-810-90321-0
160 pages.
Walt Disney's America, by Christopher Finch
Abbeville Press, New York, NY, 1978
ISBN 0-896-59000-3
A biography of Walt Disney, focusing on his movie making. 301 pages.
Prince of the Magic Kingdom, by Joe Flower
John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, NY, 1991
ISBN 0-471-52465-4
History of the Walt Disney Company beginning with the appointment of
Michael Eisner as CEO. Complete through 1991, the first third of the book
covers the takeover attempt of 1984. The remainder of the book is a focus
on Michael Eisner. 309 pages.
Window On Main Street, by Van Arsdale France
Laughter Publications, Inc., Nashua, NH, 1991.
ISBN 0-941613-17-8 (softcover)
ISBN 0-941613-18-6 (hardcover)
Autobiography of Van Arsdale France, one of the major contributors to the
creation and building of Disneyland. Includes many first-hand stories,
original photographs, and illustrations. This book is published by the same
group that publishes Storyboard magazine (information included below). 123
pages.
Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Characters, by John Grant, foreword
by David R. Smith, First Edition
Harper & Row, New York, 1987
ISBN 0-060-15777-1
A comprehensive list of Disney characters through 1986, including
filmographies and a complete index. Includes a bibliography. Currently a
collector's item. 320 pages.
Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Characters, by John Grant, forewords
by David R. Smith and Roy E. Disney, Second Edition
Hyperion Press, New York, 1993
ISBN 1-56282-904-1
A comprehensive list of Disney characters from the animated shorts, feature
films, and television series through 1992 (with brief, preliminary
descriptions of characters from Aladdin), including filmographies and a
complete index. Includes hundreds of color pictures, and a bibliography.
A must get for any Disney fan. 384 pages.
The Man Behind The Magic: The Story of Walt Disney, by Katherine and
Richard Greene
Viking Penguin, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014, published in
1991
ISBN 0-670-82259-0
A more sugar-coated biography of Walt Disney's life than Leonard Mosley's
Disney's World; it emphasizes Walt's role as a dreamer and covers how he
achieved those dreams in the face of adversity. 183 pages.
The Disney Touch: How a Daring Management Team Revived an Entertainment
Empire, by Ron Grover
Business One Irwin, Homewood, IL 1991
ISBN 1-556-23385-X
The story of how Michael Eisner took over charge of the Walt Disney Company
in 1984 and turned it into the company it is today. 315 pages.
The Disney Studio Story, by Richard Holliss and Brian Sibley
Crown Publishers, Inc. 225 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003,
published in 1988
ISBN 0-517-57078-5
Covers the history of Disney films, from the creation of Mickey Mouse
through the films of 1987. Includes a synopsis of every Disney film and
short on record. Also includes a list of Academy Awards and Oscar
nominations. 256 pages.
Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse - His Life and Times, text and research by
Richard Holliss and Brian Sibley (Justin Knowles Publishing
Group)
Harper and Row, Publishers, New York, 1986.
ISBN 0-06-015619-8
Official biography of Mickey Mouse. 96 pages, $14.95.
Justice for Disney, by Bill Justice
Tomart Publications, 1992
ISBN 0-914293-13-3
Autobiography of Disney animator Bill Justice, including illustrations and
photos. This was a limited, signed edition of 1000, with an original cover
price of $45.00. 168 pages.
Walt Disney and Assorted Other Characters: An Unauthorized Account of the
Early Years at Disney's, by Jack Kinney, foreword by Leonard
Maltin
Harmony Books, New York, 1988
ISBN 0-517-57057-2
Biography of Walt and behind the scenes look at the Walt Disney studios.
207 pages with a cover price of $17.95.
The Wonderful World of Disney Animals, by William R. Koehler
Howell Book House, New York, 1979
ISBN 0-876-05810-1
Notes: Presents a behind-the-scenes account of the techniques and trials of
training various animals who have appeared in Disney productions. 252
pages.
Walt Disney: A Guide to References and Resources, by Elizabeth Leebron and
Lynn Gartley
G. K. Hall, Boston, 1979
ISBN 0-816-18004-8
The Disney Films, by Leonard Maltin ; research associate, Jerry Beck
Crown, New York, 1984 (updated edition)
ISBN 0-517-55407-0 (paperback)
Written by Entertainment Tonight film critic and long-time Disney fan
Leonard Maltin. Includes criticism and interpretation of the Disney
animated films. 343 pages.
Of Mice and Magic, by Leonard Maltin
Crown, New York, 1987
ISBN 0-452-25993-2
Covers the major American cartoon studios, including Disney, Fleischer,
Terry, Lantz, Warner Bros., etc. 485 pages.
The Story of Walt Disney, by Diane Disney Miller as told to Pete Martin
Holt, New York, 1957
Biography of Walt from the perspective of his daughter. Note that it was
published ten years prior to Walt's death. 247 pages.
Walt Disney, Master of Make-believe, by Elizabeth Rider Montgomery,
illustrated by Vic Mays.
Garrard Pub. Co., Champaign, Ill., 1971
ISBN 0-811-64568-1
Notes: A biography of cartoonist Walt Disney stressing his professional
contribution to the film industry and influence on American life. 96
pages.
Disney's World, by Leonard Mosley
Stein and Day, New York, NY (hardcover, 1985)
Published by Scarborough House, Chelsea, MI 48118 (paperback, 1990)
Distributed by Independent Publishers Group, Chicago, IL 60610
ISBN 0-8128-8514-7 (paperback)
One of the better biographies on Walt Disney's life that I've seen. Mosley
is a noted biographer, and he obviously put a lot of research into this
one. It is not wholly positive, but is certainly not the Disney-bashing
found in Richard Schickel's The Disney Version. 330 pages.
The Ultimate Disney Trivia Book, by Kevin Neary and Dave Smith
Hyperion Press, New York, NY, December 1992
ISBN 1-56282-925-4
Contains 999 trivia questions (and answers) on the Disney characters,
cartoon shorts, feature films, the Theme Parks, and Walt Disney himself.
Walt Disney's Donald Duck: 50 Years of Happy Frustration, text by Flora
O'Brian; edited by Charlotte Parry-Crookel
Another Rainbow Publishers, Scottsdale, AZ
ISBN 0-95095-171-4
Official biography of Donald Duck. Limited to 5000 numbered copies. 94
pages.
Walt Disney's Goofy - The Good Sport, text by Flora O'Brian, research by
Christopher Fagg and Justin Knowles (Justin Knowles Publishing
Group)
HPBooks. Tuckson, AZ, 1985.
ISBN 0-89586-2
Official biography of Goofy. 96 pages, $14.95.
The Disney Version : The Life, Times, Art, and Commerce of Walt Disney, by
Richard Schickel
Simon and Schuster, New York, 1985
ISBN 0-671-54714-3
A generally negatively critical book about Walt Disney and the Disney
company.
Walt: Backstage Adventures with Walt Disney, by Charles Shows, foreword by
William D. Hanna
Published by Windsong Books International, La Jolla, CA, 1980
Distributed by Communication Creativity
ISBN 0-934-84601-4
Biography of Walt Disney. 212 pages.
The History of Animation: Enchanted Drawings, by Charles Solomon
Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY, 1989
ISBN 0-394-54684-9
Not specific to Disney, but contains a lot of material related to the
animation of the Disney studios. Oversized and full-color, I would
recommended this to animation fans, although the cover price is $75.00.
Published in 1989, over 300 pages, covers through the films of 1988 (e.g.
Oliver and Company) ending with a discussion of computer animation. 322
pages.
Storming The Magic Kingdom: Wall Street The Raiders, and The Battle For
Disney, by John Taylor
Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, NY, 1987
ISBN 0-345-35407-9
An inside look at the famous events of 1984 surrounding the attempted
hostile takeover of the Walt Disney Company by Saul Steinberg and the
subsequent installation of Michael Eisner as CEO. An interesting read.
262 pages.
Walt Disney: An American Original, by Bob Thomas
Pocket Books, New York, 1980, c1976
ISBN 0-671-66232-5
A biography of Walt Disney. Currently out of print. 414 pages.
Walt Disney and the Art of Animation; the Story of the Disney Studio
Contribution to a New Art, by Bob Thomas with the Walt Disney
staff, with research by Don Graham
Golden Press, Inc., New York, c1958
The original Bob Thomas book about the art of animation. Covers the making
of Sleeping Beauty. Out of print; now a collector's item. 181 pages.
Disney's Art of Animation, by Bob Thomas
Produced by Welcome Enterprises, 164 East 95th Street, New York, NY
10128
Published by Hyperion Press, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011,
1991
ISBN 1-56282-997-1
Covers Disney animation from Mickey Mouse through The Little Mermaid, with
a separate section on the making of Beauty and the Beast. Very colorful,
making it an excellent coffee table book, featuring a "cover that moves."
Despite the fact that the inside cover reads "First Edition", Bob Thomas
has written a previous edition on Disney animation (see above). 208 pages.
The Walt Disney Biography, by Bob Thomas
New English Library/Times Mirror, London, 1977
ISBN 4-500-32299
A biography of Walt Disney. 296 pages.
Walt Disney, Magician of the Movies, by Bob Thomas
Grosset & Dunlap, New York, 1966
Notes: "A Rutledge book." A biography of the internationally beloved
cartoonist-creator of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs, and Disneyland. 176 pages.
Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life, by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston
Abbeville Press, New York, NY, 1981
ISBN 0-89659-232-4
ISBN 0-89659-232-2 (deluxe edition)
Published in 1981, this book is now hard to find. It is all about Disney
character animation, and goes into great detail, including a lot of
technical discussion. The most authoritative book by any of the "nine old
men." Not written in chronological order, it covers mostly through The
Rescuers (1977), although I did see a background from The Black Cauldron
(which was under development when this book was written, though not
released until 1984). 575 pages.
Too Funny for Words: Disney's Greatest Sight Gags, by Frank Thomas and
Ollie Johnston
Abbeville Press, New York, 1987
ISBN 0-896-59747-4
223 pages.
Walt Disney's Bambi, The Story and the Film, by Frank Thomas and Ollie
Johnston
Stewart, Tabori & Chang
New York, 1992
ISBN 1-55670-8
Text and artwork from the animated film "Bambi" unfold the story of the
deer who grows up to be King of the Forest and reveal the creative
struggles and victories behind the making of the movie. 208 pages.
Dedication:
We dedicate this book to
WALT DISNEY
who asked for it fifty years ago.
"I'd like to see a book - an edition of Bambi - put out afterwards,
and I'd just like to see the text all broken up with these sketches." --
Walt Disney, Story meeting notes, December 12, 1939.
Sorry Walt - you always said we were slow.
The Musical World of Walt Disney, by David Tietyen
Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation
7777 West Bluemound Road, P.O. Box 13819, Milwaukee, WI 53213
ISBN 0-88188-476-6
Published in 1990, but covers only through the late 1970's (e.g. Pete's
Dragon). Includes a forward by the Sherman brothers. A discussion of
Disney music, starting with Steamboat Willie, grouped film by film in
different chapters for the different eras. 158 pages.
Great Moments From the Films of Walt Disney, by Walt Disney Productions
Rutledge Press, New York, NY, 1981
ISBN 0-817-33975-4
Notes: "Great and memorable moments from: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty. Volume 1"--Cover. 92
pages.
Treasures of Disney Animation Art, by Walt Disney Productions, preface by
Robert E. Abrams, introduction by John Canemaker
Abbeville Press, New York, 1982
ISBN 0-896-59315-0
Covers animation from the Disney animated films. 319 pages with an
original cover price of $85.00. There is a new edition of this book
currently for sale.
Mickey Mouse Movie Stories, story and illustrations by the staff of the
Walt Disney Studios, introduction by Maurice Sendak
Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, 1988.
ISBN 0-8109-1529-4
Facsimile edition of "Mickey Mouse Movie Stories, Book 2", published in
1934, containing a dozen stories illustrated with photographs of the
original cel setups from the choice cartoon shorts of 1932 to 1934. 197
pages, 98 illustrations.
The Art of Mickey Mouse, edited by Craig Yoe and Janet Morra-Yoe,
introduction by John Updike
Hyperion, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011, 1991
ISBN 1-56282-994-7
Art book covering various interpretations of Mickey by various artists.
$35.00.
There are also many guide books related to maximizing your visits to
the theme parks. Consult your local bookstore's Travel section- there are
plenty to choose from. My personal favorites are The Unofficial Guide
books written by Bob Sehlinger. Most of the guides are updated yearly.
The guide books are covered in part two of the FAQ, which focuses on the
theme parks.
Magazines:
Storyboard/The Art of Laughter -
Laughter Publications, Inc., 80 Main Street, Nashua, NH 03060
(603)-883-9770
A high-quality magazine dedicated to animation art. Published by
Laughter Publications on a bi-monthly basis. Subscriptions are $22.97 for
one year, with a cover price of $4.95. Features articles and
advertisements related to cel and merchandise collecting, the Disney motion
pictures, and historical articles about the animators.
Disney News - (see below for addresses)
Published quarterly as the Official Magazine of Walt Disney's Magic
Kingdom Club. Subscriptions are free with a Gold Card Membership, $14.95
for two years otherwise. The cover price is $2.50; the only place I've
ever seen it sold off the shelf is at the Disney Store and the theme parks.
This magazine mostly covers current events at the theme parks and the
Disney realms, with a few behind the scene looks.
The "E" Ticket (as posted by mikkelson@breakr.enet.dec.com):
The "E" Ticket is published 2-3 times a year. Subscriptions are
$22 for four issues, or $6 for a sample copy. Write to them at:
The "E" Ticket
20560 Alaminos Drive
Saugus, CA 91350
The publishers of The "E" Ticket always have a table at the
NFFC's annual "Strictly Disney" show in Anaheim, where you can
browse through their magazine, sign up for a subscription,
and/or purchase back issues.
Online sources:
There is a Disney following in the FLORIDA forum on the Compuserve
Information Service, including libraries that have official Disney-approved
GIF images.
Another online source is the Disney Software BBS. It is primarily
present for the support of the Disney software products, but has some
interesting Disney GIFs and animations. The phone number is:
(818)-567-4027 (somewhere in the Los Angeles area).
Via the Internet:
rec.arts.disney: Everybody's favorite USENET newsgroup, dedicated to
the pursuit of happiness through the Art of Walt. Other than this FAQ,
there is also a Disneyland-specific FAQ, and an FAQ of sorts on the
Monorail system (not regularly posted- Monorail Green, are you out there?).
Disney Fidonet Echo: If you have access to a BBS that carries Fidonet
groups, check for the Disney Echo. (Fidonet is similar to the Internet in
concept; it is composed of many participating BBSs worldwide, linked via
modem. Hub BBSs collect/send/relay messages to other BBSs on Fidonet on a
regular basis, with a large amount of work being done overnight.)
The Disney Afternoon Mailing List- Discussion of Disney Afternoon
related topics, and other related threads (and tangents). To subscribe,
send a request to Stephanie daSilva, at arielle@taronga.com. The address
of the list (not for maintenance, such as subscribing or unsubscribing), is
ranger-list@taronga.com.
The Disney Comics Mailing List- Discussion of Disney-related comic
book materials, including Carl Barks and Don Rosa. To subscribe, mail to
Per Starback, at disney-comics-request@student.docs.uu.se. The address of
the list (not for maintenance, such as subscribing or unsubscribing), is
disney-comics@student.docs.uu.se.
Addresses:
Here is a list of addresses and/or phone numbers:
Buena Vista Home Burbank, CA 91521
Video (US)
Buena Vista Home London, England W1V 6AP
Video (UK)
California Operator: (805)-255-1050; 24700 W. McBean Pkwy;
Institute of Valencia, CA 91355
the Arts (Cal
Arts)
Disney Catalog P.O. Box 29144, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66201-9144
(800)-237-5751 (orders; M-F 8a-11p ET; Sa-Su 8a-8p,
ET)
(913)-752-1095 (FAX)
Disneyland Guest 1313 Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim, CA 92802-2398
Relations
(714)-999-4565
Disneyland Hotel (714)-956-6400
Disneyland (800)-3MAIL-33
Inventory
Services
Disney News, P.O. Box 4489, Anaheim, CA 92803
correspondence
Disney News, P.O. Box 3310, Anaheim, CA 92803-3310
subscription
info
Disney Software c/o Customer Service, 500 S. Buena Vista St.;
Burbank, CA 91521-6385
(800)-841-3326 (8a-5p PST); FAX: (818)-846-0454
Disney Vacation (800)-800-9100; (407)-WDW-3100
Club
Gladstone P.O. Box 2079, Prescott, AZ 86302
Publishing
Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation (sheet music)
7777 West Bluemound Road, P.O. Box 13819,
Milwaukee, WI 53213
Hyperion Press 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
Magic Kingdom Club, Disneyland Travel Packages
P.O. Box 4180, Anaheim, CA 92803-4180
(714)-520-5000 (for MKC members)
Magic Kingdom Club, Walt Disney World Travel Center
P.O. Box 10160, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0160
(407)-824-2600 (for MKC members)
Magic Kingdom Club P.O. Box 3850, Anaheim, CA 92803-3850
Gold Card
(800)-248-2665
Magic Years Club P.O. Box 4709, Anaheim, CA 92803-4709
(seniors)
(714)-490-3250
Walt Disney Company 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521
(818)-560-1000
Walt Disney Magazine Publishing Company (e.g. Disney Comics)
500 S. Buena Vista
Buena Vista, CA 91521
Walt Disney Music P.O. Box 4740, Anaheim, CA 92803-4740
Company
Walt Disney Studios 1400 Flower Street, Glendale, CA 91221
Walt Disney World Guest Relations
P.O. Box 10000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000
(407)-824-4321
(note: this address is a general address,
so you should specify a particular
department)
Section III - Answers to Questions with Time-critical Information
1) What Disney shows/auctions/events are coming up?
Here are some of the Disney-related events coming up in the future. If you
know of any others and would like to have them listed here, please e-mail
the appropriate info to me and I'll add it in.
* Howard Lowery Gallery:
Fine Animation Art and Related Items- August 29
Contact: Howard Lowery Gallery, 3818 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA
91505
(818)-972-9080
* NFFC's 9th Annual Disneyana Collector's and Enthusiasts Convention- July
20th-25th
Hyatt Regency Alicante Hotel, Anaheim, CA
Contact: NFFC, P.O. Box 19212, Irvine, CA 92713; (714)-731-4705.
For reservations, contact the hotel at (800)-972-2929 and mention the
"National Fantasy Fan Club Disneyana Convention" when making your room
reservations to get a special rate of $78/night.
* 2nd Annual Disneyana Convention - September 16-19
Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, CA
This is set up by Disney, registration required.
For more information about the itinerary and registration information,
contact: Official Disneyana Convention, Special Events, Walt Disney
Attractions Merchandise, P. O. Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista FL, 32830-
1000, (407) 560-7232
* The Disney Store and the Disney Theme Parks are currently offering
limited edition, commemorative Disney Dollars featuring Mickey Mouse on the
front and Mickey's ToonTown house on the back, to celebrate Mickey's 65th
birthday.
* The Disney Store is currently taking pre-orders on Aladdin through
September 27. As with the pre-orders on Pinocchio, they will be including
a free lithograph (of Aladdin and Jasmine together) at time of purchase, as
well as your choice of a watch or $5 Disney Store gift certificate at the
time of pickup. There will be a $5 rebate with it as well.
* There will be a showing and sale of cels with lithographed backgrounds,
from The Little Mermaid at the following Disney Stores on June 13:
Glendale Galleria, Glendale, CA: (818)-247-0222
Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL: (708)-240-5255
Cherry Hill Mall, Cherry Hill, NJ: (609)-665-0611
The Galleria, Ft. Lauderdale, FL: (305)-561-7337
* The Disney Collectors Society is taking Charter Memberships until the end
of this year. The membership price is $52, which includes, among other
things, an exclusive Jiminy Cricket sculpture and a subscription to the
Collectors Society's newsletter. The Disney Store currently has brochures
regarding this, and the Society was featured in the most recent Disney
News. You may also write to the Society at:
Walt Disney Collectors Society
P.O. Box 11090
Des Moines, Iowa 50336-1090
* Aladdin's Oasis opens at Disneyland July 2. This is featured in the
current issue of Disney News. It consists of a multi-course meal, which
each course featuring a different live entertainment segment with
characters from the movie Aladdin.
* Disney has created something called the "Symphonic Fantasy," which is a
full evening of live Disney characters, combined with symphony music and
songs from over 30 classic Disney films. It features hometown symphony
orchestras, 32 singers, 18 dancers, and 200 characters. Confirmed dates
are listed here:
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles: June 18, 20, 21
The Pond, Anaheim: June 22
Shoreline Amphitheater: June 24
Seattle Center Stadium, Seattle: June 26
Metropolitan Opera House: New York: July 6-18
Merriweather Post Pavilion, Washington D.C.: July 22
Chastain Park Amphitheater, Atlanta: July 25
Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati: July 27
Deer Creek Music Center, Noblesville, Ind.: July 28
Pine Knob Music Theater, Detroit: July 30, 31
Poplar Creek, Chicago: Aug. 1
Fiddler's Green, Denver: Aug. 4
Stoneridge Amphitheater, Camdenton, Mo.: Aug. 6
Sandstone Amphitheater, Bonner Springs, Kan.: Aug. 7
Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis: Aug. 8
Wisconsin State Fair, Milwaukee: Aug. 10
Garden State Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ: Aug. 12
Jones Beach Amphitheater, Wantaugh, NY: Aug. 15
Starlake Amphitheater, Pittsburgh: Aug. 18
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto: Aug 19
Great Woods. Boston: Aug 22
Tickets can be purchased at the box offices of the individual theaters. If
you are an MKC member, you should be receiving a flyer regarding a show
near you. For more info, try Disneyland Publicity at (714)-999-4445, or
WDW Publicity at (407)-824-4531.
* A stage musical version of Beauty and the Beast is scheduled to open
December 2, 1993 in the Music Hall, home to Houston's Theatre Under the
Stars, in Houston, TX. This will feature many of the original songs, as
well as some additional songs, including "Human Again," which was written
by the Ashman-Menken team (edited out of the Beauty and the Beast animated
feature film) and four new songs by Alan Menken and Tim Rice.
* The unauthorized biography, Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince, by
David Eliot, is due to be published by Birch Lane Press in July.
* Contact individual galleries (see Question #5) regarding showings and
auctions.
2) What are some of the upcoming movie and video releases from the Walt
Disney Studios?
The current film still in release from the holiday season 1992 is
Aladdin, which debuted in late November. This should be out in the
theaters in many overseas markets during the summer of 1993. See also
Question #1, entry 31.
The in-store date for Aladdin on VHS video is September 28, 1993.
Disney is expecting to sell 25-30 million copies of this, which would
easily surpass Beauty and the Beast's record of around 20 million units.
Disney will release Snow White nationwide on July 2, 1993. Disney had
originally planned to re-release Sleeping Beauty into the theaters early in
1993. Since then they have discarded these plans, with speculation
attributing this partly to the success of Aladdin, and partly due to
Pinocchio's poor showing ($10 million) on its last re-release (remember
that Pinocchio was the first film to have been re-released into theaters
following a release on video).
Pinocchio is currently available in its re-release on video.
A Nightmare Before Christmas, using puppet/claymation-style animation,
is due for the holiday season of 1993. This is being directed by Tim
Burton. It features a story about a skeleton who kidnaps Santa Claus.
There is a (very short) preview for this on the Pinocchio video.
The film originally scheduled for 1993 but now delayed until summer
1994, is titled The Lion King. It features a story about a lion whose
power is usurped by his evil brother. It is an allegory of Shakespeare's
Hamlet. See also Question #1, entry 32.
The film for the holiday season of 1994 is tentatively titled
Pocahontas. This will have a more "bittersweet" ending than a typical
Disney film.
A company named Hi-Tech Toons is working on a film for Disney for the
summer of 1995, tentatively titled Toy Story, about two toys and their
battle over their young master's affections. Disney has been involved
creatively on this film.
For the farther future, Disney is working on a project based on
Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. Another film in the creative pipeline is
Atlantis, a retelling of the story "The Man Who Would Be King." In 1996 or
1997, Disney will release Fantasia Continued, which will feature new
segments mixed in with some of the old segments. It is not yet known what
will remain and what will be taken out, but it is the studio's intent to
release the film every seven years with modifications (and will
subsequently release the modified version on video). Other contemplative
titles include Song of the Sea (Bambi with whales?) and Silly Hillbillies
on Mars (possibly a short- don't ask).
Beauty and the Beast was released onto video in the U.S. in late
October, selling 1 million copies on it's first day, and eclipsing
Fantasia's record of 14.2 million copies sold (that's sold, not just
shipped) in it's first month. Image Entertainment has released the Work-In-
Progress version of this film (originally shown in New York for film
critics) which includes pencil sketches, trailers, and computer tests.
This was released on CAV LD and is now out of print; I haven't heard
anything of other formats. A VHS collectors edition, much like the
Fantasia collectors edition that included a lithograph and the soundtrack
on CD, has been released as well; it includes a VHS version of the Work-In-
Progress. The VHS version of Beauty and the Beast is on moratorium.
Beauty and the Beast is to be released as a letterboxed LaserDisc on
September 25. Mary Poppins is going to be (re-)released in letterboxed
format as well. Sleeping Beauty and Lady and the Tramp, which are both
CinemaScope movies (meaning they don't even properly fit into the standard
1.85:1 Academy ratio, let alone the 4:3 aspect ratio of a standard
television) are being transferred for a letterboxed LaserDisc release. No
definitive time frame has been set for these.
Archive-name: disney-faq/part2
Last-modified: 11 Jun 1993
Frequently Asked Questions List For rec.arts.disney, part 2
Version 2.0, last revised June 11, 1993
This document is Copyright (c) 1993, by Tom Tanida. It is intended
for public use, and may be redistributed freely in its original form.
This is part two of the FAQ file for rec.arts.disney. I have tried to
include the questions and threads which arise most often, as well as some
interesting facts. Most of the information came from articles posted to
rec.arts.disney since July 1990, about the time the group was started,
although I'm missing quite a few articles from early on. Other information
came from various books and magazines. Your input to this list is highly
appreciated.
The purpose of this list is to reduce the number of redundant
questions posted to rec.arts.disney and to provide a source of information
to Disney fans worldwide. Personally, however, I would invite discussion
of questions included in this list if this list is not complete enough.
For example, one of the questions lists the voices of popular Disney
characters and where to find more info, but if the character is not listed
here, I would still encourage you to post and ask, especially if the
character is more obscure. Also, I couldn't possibly write the "complete
guide to taking kids to the Disney Theme Parks" because there is no truly
complete guide (not to mention the fact that there are many good guide
books out there). So although I have offered some information and advice
in part two of this list (the information which is most commonly
suggested), I would still welcome discussion of the topic since everybody
has their own opinions about what rides to go on, what to see, when to go,
what restaurants to eat at in the area, etc.
Again, I hope that this list will reduce the amount of redundant
information posted to the net. Even more strongly, I hope this list will
provide a unified source of information about Disney related material and
provide a valuable reference for all.
This is part two of the list, consisting of general topics and
questions about the theme parks including some time critical information.
Part one of the list, a separate document, contains general topics and
questions with a separate section for time critical information.
There are three sections:
I. A list of the questions in this part
II. Answers to Theme Park Questions
III. List of lists available upon request
Send comments, corrections, suggestions, and inside information to:
tanida@esosun.css.gov. I am sure that no matter how long I work on this
that it will never be perfect, but it doesn't hurt to try. :-) If you
prefer CompuServe access, I'm at 76655,344. On Prodigy I'm xgsn74a. On
America Online, I'm TomTanida. On the Sierra Network, I'm at mailbox 2173.
If you would like to reach me by phone, my day number is (619)-546-6118.
The most reliable way to reach me is via CompuServe.
If you would like a PostScript version of this document, which has
much better formatting, feel free to send me a request; I can either mail
it to you, or we can find a mutual FTP site. The standard text version of
this FAQ, like all FAQs cross-posted to news.answers, is archived at
rtfm.mit.edu. For information regarding how to FTP to rtfm.mit.edu, send
me e-mail; I've written a quick tutorial. This document was originally
created in MS Word For Windows 2.0.
Note: the Disneyland FAQ is available from me or its maintainer, Walt
Hoffman (whoffman@ganymede.jpl.nasa.gov), and via FTP from rtfm.mit.edu in
pub/usenet/news.answers/disney-faq..
Section I- Questions
Theme park questions:
1) What are the park hours?
2) What rides are currently shut down for refurbishing? What current
construction is going on?
3) What are the current prices at {WDW, Disneyland}?
4) How do I beat the crowds?
5) If I've been to the Magic Kingdom in WDW, what parts of Disneyland can I
skip?
6) Where should I stay when visiting {WDW, Disneyland}?
7) What's the best time to go to {WDW, Disneyland}?
8) My child is 3 years old. Is that old enough to enjoy Disneyland/WDW?
9) What are good attractions to take younger children to?
10) Other considerations for children (strollers, etc.)
11) Some interesting things to look for at the theme parks
12) Differences between the Magic Kingdom at WDW and Disneyland
13) Who created the music from the Main Street Electrical Parade?
14) What is SpectroMagic at Walt Disney World?
15) What is Fantasmic! at Disneyland? How do I beat the crowds?
16) What is a "Character Breakfast"?
17) What is the Disney Vacation Club?
18) What are some good guide books on travel to {WDW/Disneyland?
19) What are "Hidden Mickeys"? Where can I find some?
Other lists, available upon request:
1) Technical errors in Disney animated feature films (contact Robert Cook
at rcook@sdcc13.ucsd.edu)
2) List of Jungle Cruise jokes (this is pretty long now)
3) Misc trivia
Section II- Answers to Theme Park Questions
Theme park questions:
1) What are the park hours?
Here are the WDW hours, for February through April. Note that the
Main Street section of the Magic Kingdom at WDW will often open 30 minutes
to an hour ahead of the official opening time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Theme Park Operating Hours for May-September 1993
-----------------------------------------------------------------
*** HOURS AND ENTERTAINMENT SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE ****
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS THEME PARK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
June 7 - 13 .................................... 9 am - 9 pm
June 14 - 30 ................................... 9 am - 10 pm
July 1 - 31 .................................... 9 am - 10 pm
August 1 - 21 .................................. 9 am - 10 pm
August 22 - 28 ................................. 9 am - 9 pm
August 29 - 31 ................................. 9 am - 7 pm
September 1 - 30 ............................... 9 am - 7 pm
Aladdin's Royal Caravan:
June 6 - August 28 - 11 am & 3:30 pm
August 29 - September 3 - 1 pm
September 4 - 5 - 11 am & 3:30 pm
September 6 - 30 - 1 pm
Sorcery in the Sky:
June 7 - 13 - 8:50 pm
June 14 - August 21 - 9:50 pm
August 22 - 28 - 8:50 pm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
EPCOT CENTER
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
June 1 - 11 .................................... 9 am - 9 pm
June 12 - 30 ................................... 9 am - 10 pm
July 1 - 3 ..................................... 9 am - 10 pm
July 4 ......................................... 9 am - 12 mid
July 5 - 31 .................................... 9 am - 10 pm
August 1 - 21 .................................. 9 am - 10 pm
August 22 - 31 ................................. 9 am - 9 pm
September 1 - 30 ............................... 9 am - 9 pm
Illuminations:
May 1 - June 11 - 9 pm
June 12 - August 21 - 10 pm
August 22 - September 30 - 9 pm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
MAGIC KINGDOM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
June 5 - 12 .................................... 9 am - 11 pm
June 13 - 30 ................................... 9 am - 12 mid
July 1 - 3 ..................................... 9 am - 12 mid
July 4 ......................................... 9 am - 2 am
July 5 - 31 .................................... 9 am - 12 mid
August 1 - 21 .................................. 9 am - 12 mid
August 22 - 28 ................................. 9 am - 11 pm
August 29 ...................................... 9 am - 10 pm
August 30 - 31 ................................. 9 am - 9 pm
September 1 - 3 ................................ 9 am - 8 pm
September 4 - 5 ................................ 9 am - 10 pm
September 6 - 17 ............................... 9 am - 7 pm
September 18 ................................... 9 am - 8 pm
SpectroMagic:
June 5 - 12 - 9 pm
June 13 - July 3 - 9 & 11 pm
July 4 - 10:30 pm & 12 mid
July 5 - August 21 - 9 & 11 pm
August 22 - 29 - 9 pm
September 4 - 5 - 9 pm
Fireworks:
June 5 - July 3 - 10 pm
July 4 - 10:30 pm & 12 mid
July 5 - August 29 - 10 pm
September 4 - 5 - 10 pm
2) What rides are currently shut down for refurbishing? What current
construction is going on?
If there's someone out there who regularly goes to WDW or Disneyland
and is willing to keep the group updated, here's a big chance to help out.
Otherwise, you can contact the respective theme parks directly. The
number for Disneyland is (714)-999-4565. WDW: (407)-824-4321
3) What are the current prices at {WDW, Disneyland}?
The following table lists prices for Passports to WDW. If staying at
a Disney resort, you may benefit if you can find a package deal that
includes lodging and a passport.
Passport type General Public MKC Club Members
Five Day Super $170 plus tax $153.88 plus tax
Duper Pass, guest
Five Day Super $135 plus tax $121.58 plus tax
Duper Pass, child
(3-9)
Four Day Super $125 plus tax $113 plus tax
Pass, guest
Four Day Super $98 plus tax $87 plus tax
Pass, child (3-9)
Annual Passport, $190 plus tax $175 plus tax
guest
Annual Passport, $165 plus tax $155 plus tax
child
One-day, one park $34 plus tax $32.01 plus tax
ticket, guest
One-day, one park $27 plus tax $25.02 plus tax
ticket, child
Pleasure Island, $13.95 plus tax $11.00 plus tax
one day
Typhoon Lagoon, one $19.50 plus tax $17.50 plus tax
day, adult
Typhoon Lagoon, one $15.50 plus tax $14.00 plus tax
day, child (3-9)
River Country, one $12.50 plus tax $11.25 plus tax
day, adult
River Country, one $10.00 plus tax $8.75 plus tax
day, child (3-9)
Discovery Island, $8.00 plus tax $7.25 plus tax
one day, adult
Discovery Island, $4.50 plus tax $4.00 plus tax
one day, child
(3-9)
Taken from the MKC price guide, with help from Len Goldberg
(goldberg@ljohub.enet.dec.com):
A Five Day Super Duper Pass includes unlimited admission to the Disney-
MGM Studios Theme Park, Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT Center any five days
with no expiration date. Plus unlimited admission for seven days to
Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, Discovery Island and Pleasure Island (valid
for seven days after first visit to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT Center or the
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park). It also includes unlimited use of the
transportation system linking the parks.
A Four Day Super Pass is the same as the Five Day, but does not include
admission to the minor parks.
An Annual Passport includes twelve months of unlimited admission to the
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, the Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT Center
during regular operating hours. It also includes special advance
reservation privileges for Walt Disney World restaurants, free parking and
unlimited use of the transportation system linking the Parks. Annual
Passport holders can purchase separate admissions to the minor parks to
supplement their passport. These expire at the same time the passport does.
A One-Day One Park Ticket includes one day's admission to either the
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, Magic Kingdom Park or EPCOT Center and bus
transportation between the Transportation and Ticket Center, and Magic
Kingdom Park, EPCOT Center or the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park.
There are six, seven and eight day Super Duper Passes, which can only
be purchased at the resorts themselves.
Parking is $4 per car.
For Disneyland, here is a current price guide (as of June 1, 1993):
Passport type General MKC Club Members
Public
Adult, 1 day/2 $30/55/75 $28/51/69
day/3 day
Child (3-11), 1 $24/44/60 $22/40/54
day/2 day/3 day
Seasonal Passport, $105 $95
adult
Seasonal Passport, $85 $75
child (3-11)
Annual Passport, $195 $180
adult
Annual Passport, $155 $140
child (3-11)
Parking in the Disneyland parking lot is an additional $5 per car.
The Seasonal Passport can be used from September 1 through May 31,
excluding Saturdays and December 25-31. Unlimited parking is an additional
$17.50. Annual Passports include unlimited parking, and are good for one
year from the date of issue.
4) How do I beat the crowds?
One of the best strategies is to arrive early, before the park opens.
An hour after opening is too late, by then, the lines have built up to a
full frenzy. Another strategy, generally for those without kids, is to
take on the more popular rides late in the evening (after 9 pm, through
midnight, if you're there at the time of year when the park is open late).
Also, the lines do shorten a little during major shows (the Main Street
Electrical Parade, SpectroMagic at WDW, or Fantasmic! at Disneyland) and
during dinner time.
For Disneyland (from the Disneyland FAQ):
Start by selecting a good day to go (see question #7, below).
Fantasmic! has made nighttime on the west side of the park very
unpredictable. Tremendous numbers of people show up. During the shows,
lines for attractions are quite short (especially when the Electrical
Parade is also running). When the show is over, many people avoid the
herding affect by jumping into one of the nearest lines: Splash Mountain,
Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, and Big Thunder
Mountain Railroad.
Space Mountain is long most of the day and into the night, so first
thing early morning is usually your best bet. Ditto Rocket Jets. Star
Tours will shorten significantly in the late evening (when the line is
completely inside, you're in good shape). Splash Mountain is good when
it's raining or right before the park closes (avoid it when it backs up
beyond the Briar Patch shop). An early-morning dash might also be a good
idea (since it's at the back of the park). After dinner, the "kiddie"
rides in Fantasyland shorten a bit, but not much. Dumbo, Alice in
Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Mr. Toad will remain popular, but there will be
almost no line for Snow White's Scary Adventures or Pinocchio's Daring
Journey. Skyway line is almost always shorter from Fantasyland to
Tomorrowland than the other way around. Small World should usually be a
walk-on; if it's not, come back later. Country Bear Jamboree almost never
takes long.
Crossing the parade route is possible but time consuming. Plan which
side of the park you want to be on during the parade and get there early.
If you must cross, consider using the Disneyland RR or the Skyway. Parade
crossing zones north of the Matterhorn are usually less congested than the
one at the Hub. Main Street is tough (though not impossible) to negotiate
during popular parades.
5) If I've been to the Magic Kingdom in WDW, what parts of Disneyland can I
skip?
The answer here is taken from the Disneyland FAQ:
There are subtle differences in almost every corner of the park. If
you're a Disney aficionado, you'll want to check out everything. If you're
pressed for time, you can skip the following:
- Haunted Mansion (I hate to admit it, but WDW's is better)
- People Mover (more primitive)
- Monorail (unless you want to go to the Disneyland Hotel)
- Submarine Voyage (nearly identical to WDW's except for order of
presentation and absence of little Jules Verne nuances)
- Skyway (useful for getting around, especially during parades)
- Captain EO
- Circle Vision 360 (same as at WDW)
- Autopias
- Small World (biggest difference is the exterior facade)
- Country Bear Jamboree (virtually identical but DL has 2 theaters)
- Golden Horseshoe Revue (same show, different finale)
Tough calls: (similar, yet different and worth experiencing)
- Space Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (a trimmed down version of the Hall
of Presidents)
- Splash Mountain
Whatever you do, don't miss out on:
- Fantasmic!
- Star Tours (unless you've been on the one in Disney/MGM Studios)
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Jungle Cruise (my DL experiences have far surpassed the one at WDW)
- Pirates of the Caribbean (parts are identical, but DL is better)
- Disney Art Gallery (above Pirates)
- Disneyland RR between Tomorrowland & Main Street for Grand Canyon
and Primeval World dioramas (not quite as impressive as EPCOT's
World of Energy dinosaurs)
The parade route is different. North of Main Street, Disneyland parades
proceed north along the east side of the Castle up to It's a Small World.
WDW MK parades turn at the Hub, heading through Liberty Square and
Frontierland.
6) Where should I stay when visiting {WDW, Disneyland}?
For first time guests, especially those with kids, I recommend an
on-site resort in order to make the transition easier. At Disneyland, the
Disneyland hotel features the monorail; it is *very* convenient to flash
your passport and hop on to go to the park, then hop back on in
Tomorrowland to return to the hotel when you need a break. Likewise, the
Contemporary Resort, among others, also feature easy Monorail-to-park
access.
For those without kids, or experienced travelers, off-site hotels can
be cheaper. Although they won't feature the amenities of the more
expensive hotels, this may be better if you're looking to save money and
aren't interested in spending much time in your room (aside from sleeping).
Be sure to check out vacation packages, however, before giving up on the
Disney hotels.
Birnbaum's Official Guide books give decent listings of the resort
hotels, including phone numbers and addresses.
For information regarding lodging in the Anaheim area, you may contact
the Anaheim Area Visitor and Convention Bureau at 800 W. Katella Ave.,
Anaheim, CA 92802. Phone: (714)-999-8999.
7) What's the best time to go to {WDW, Disneyland}?
For WDW, here's a quick and dirty table, from best to worst:
1) October, through a week before Christmas, except Thanksgiving
2) Post New Years through a couple weeks before Easter
3) Post Easter through Memorial Day
4) President's Day weekend
5) Spring Break week (the week up to and including Easter)
6) Memorial Day through the end of Summer
7) Thanksgiving weekend
8) Christmas through the New Year
8) My child is 3 years old. Is that old enough to enjoy Disneyland/WDW?
As always, it depends on the kids and the patience of the parent. Two
or three is about a minimum age (otherwise, the child is pretty much just
along for the ride), but even children this young can get quite a bit of
enjoyment from the visit. Children of this age might enjoy meeting the
characters (in the park, or at a Character Breakfast (see #16 below)), and
some of the milder rides. Detracting from the enjoyment would be the
patience of the kids waiting in line for the rides; you probably know how
to judge/handle your own child's patience levels better than I do. :-)
To fully appreciate Disneyland/WDW, seven or so is probably a better
age.
Some info from the Disneyland FAQ:
Kids age 2 and under are free. Strollers may be rented, but many
people prefer to bring their own. Some rides have height and age
requirements.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 40+ inches
Space Mountain 40+ inches
Autopia (alone) 52+ inches
Autopia (w/ adult) 1+ years
Splash Mountain 3+ years and 40+ inches
Star Tours (alone) 7+ years
Star Tours (w/ adult) 3+ years
Matterhorn Bobsleds (alone) 7+ years
Matterhorn Bobsleds (w/ adult) 3+ years
Children under 7 are supposed to be accompanied on other attractions as
well (Snow White's Scary Adventures, The Haunted Mansion, etc.)
9) What are good attractions to take younger children to?
(I'll take "younger" to mean below 5 years of age here.)
Almost always OK:
Jungle Cruise
Swiss Family Treehouse (though some find this too dull and crowded)
Dumbo
It's A Small World
Peter Pan's Flight
PeopleMover
Walt Disney World/Disneyland Railroad
Mickey's Starland Show (WDW)
Country Bear Jamboree
Tom Sawyer's Island (WDW)
Cinderella's Carousel
Journey Into Imagination (EPCOT)
Kitchen Cabaret (EPCOT)
Universe of Energy (EPCOT)
Disney Animation Tour (Disney-MGM)
Anything in the EPCOT World Showcase, with the possible exception of
the Norway Maelstrom ride.
Possible fright factor:
Haunted Mansion
Tea Cups (motion sickness)
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (not as wild as the name suggests, but still
rough)
Space Mountain
Star Tours
Enchanted Tiki Room
Captain EO (I'd be wary of the volume)
Pirates of the Caribbean (can be threatening to the unaware, includes
a couple of plunges)
Body Wars (EPCOT; can be generally nauseating to people of any age)
The Great Movie Ride (Disney-MGM- potential surprises)
Snow White Ride (featuring the rather scary queen popping out of the
dark)
As always with kids, your mileage may vary; a good strategy would be
to start with the milder rides and work your kid up to more "aggressive"
rides if you think they're up to it. Certain aspects of a ride may
frighten children, such as immersion in darkness (Pirates of the
Caribbean).
Also note that meeting Disney characters themselves is not a given, as
some kids can be terrified of a gigantic Mickey or Goofy. Start from a
distance and work forward.
There is a "fright factor" chart in the 1992 edition of the Unofficial
Guide to Walt Disney World, by Bob Sehlinger (see question #18 for a list
of guide books).
10) Other considerations for children (strollers, etc.)
(This question may be broken up and expanded to include phone numbers
and specific locations in the future.)
Physical health: In the summer months especially at WDW, it is easy
for kids (and adults) to get sunburned and dehydrated. Bring along plenty
of bottled water (much better than sugary sodas) and sunscreen; with the
crowds you'll otherwise have to stand in line at the refreshment stands or
drinking fountains, and if it's a hot day, you might have to stop often.
Also guard against blisters (use broken-in shoes and consider two pairs of
thin socks over one pair of thick socks). Make note of the First Aid
centers (there is one in each of the three theme parks).
Temperament: It's up to you, the parent to keep your temper. It
might not be easy, given the crowds and the long waits for certain rides,
the heat, etc. The best thing to do is to make sure you enjoy yourself.
Maximizing your vacation is not a matter of cramming yourself on as many
rides as possible: it's a good idea, especially with kids, to take time out
for a breather periodically (not just standing in line). Find a place to
sit down with some ice cream, or even return to the hotel room after lunch
for a short nap.
Strollers: Strollers are available for rent at each of the theme
parks. The stroller centers are near the entrances, and the process of
getting a stroller is fairly quick and easy. Rule number one is to keep
your receipt. Rule number two is to keep your receipt (and don't keep it
in the stroller itself). It's easy for your stroller to get swiped- not
because there are roving packs of stroller thieves, but because people
might mistake your stroller for theirs. If this should happen, you can go
to the stroller center, show your receipt, and get a new one (they won't
charge you to replace it). A good idea is to attach something to the
stroller that will uniquely identify it as yours (nothing of great value,
of course), such as a piece of paper with your name on it or a bright
scarf. The stroller staff at WDW currently do take your name and put it on
a card which is attached to the stroller itself.
Baby-sitting services: There aren't any services inside the parks
themselves, but there are child care services at the resorts. In general,
you must have a reservation. They can be expensive (e.g. $6 per hour, with
an $18 minimum), but include free video games, Disney movies, games and
activities, and visits by a Disney character each night. They accept kids
from 3-12 years of age. There is also a "Fairy Godmother" service
available (also not cheap), who will come to your room at any hour of the
day, 24 hours a day, and can even take care of your pet.
Infants/Toddlers: All of the theme parks have Baby Care services,
which have everything you need for changing diapers, making formula, etc.
Supplies for purchase can be found at these places as well.
Lost children: You may or may not be surprised at how easy it is to
get your child lost. When you exit rides and shows, you should take your
child by the hand to make sure they don't get lost in the bustle of people
exiting. Also keep in mind there may be more than one exit to a bathroom;
should your child wander out of the one you don't expect, he or she may
find themselves to be lost. Also keep track of your kids during parades-
they might otherwise wander off while trying to get a better viewpoint.
11) Some interesting things to look for at the theme parks
WDW:
Hidden Mickeys: list available separately- see question #19, below.
Disneyland:
- The Park Entrance, designed to look like a red carpet
- Apartment above the Disneyland Fire Station; apartment in the fourth
floor of the Castle; offices above Main Street
- The names on the windows on the second story of the buildings on
Main Street. These are named for notable people who were
involved in the creation of Disneyland.
- The Disney Gallery, above Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans
Square, of interest to those into animation
- Telegraph operator at Frontierland/New Orleans Square station, which
types out a Morse code version of Walt's opening day speech
- The Club 33 entrance, at New Orleans Square, near the Blue Bayou
restaurant
- The Haunted Mansion knight
- Snow White's Grotto, to the right of the Castle before you enter
Fantasyland. Note the song in the Wishing Well. Also note the
dwarves are the same size as Snow White.
- Platform where Tinkerbell lands as the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks
begin; a fort tower located behind the Frontierland buildings
hidden by trees, where she slams into some mattresses at the end
- Infrared sensor bathrooms, located near Videopolis, which turn the
water on when you put your hands under the faucet, and flush the
toilets when you step away
- Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman) as the voice of the pilot of Star
Tours
- Leslie Neilson (of Police Squad/Naked Gun fame) as one of the
singing heads in the Haunted Mansion
12) Differences between the Magic Kingdom at WDW and Disneyland
The following are found only at the Magic Kingdom at WDW:
The Hall of Presidents (Liberty Square)
Dreamflight (Tomorrowland)
Carousel of Progress (Tomorrowland)
Mickey's Starland
SpectroMagic (Main Street)
The following are found only at Disneyland:
Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln (Main Street)
Sailing Ship Columbia (Frontierland)
Big Thunder Ranch (Frontierland)
The Story of Sleeping Beauty (Fantasyland)
Pinocchio's Daring Journey (Fantasyland)
Casey Jr. Circus Train (Fantasyland)
Storybook Land Canal Boats (Fantasyland)
Alice In Wonderland (Fantasyland)
Matterhorn Bobsleds (Fantasyland)
Motor Boat Cruise (Fantasyland)
Star Tours (Tomorrowland; these are at the MGM studios in Florida)
Main Street Electrical Parade (Main Street)
At WDW, Space Mountain, the Castles in Fantasyland (which are bigger)
are considered better than their counterparts at Disneyland. The
Disneyland Railroad features the Grand Canyon Diorama and Primeval World,
not found at the Magic Kingdom in WDW, and Pirates of the Caribbean is much
longer at Disneyland. The Magic Kingdom at WDW also has the advantage of
having much larger pathways, having been built with large crowds in mind.
Disneyland has more of the details (see also Question #11) and personality
that Walt added. See also the Disneyland FAQ.
13) Who created the music from the Main Street Electrical Parade?
The music, which is titled "Baroque Hoedown," was written by Jean-
Jacques Perry and Gershon Kingsley. The electronically synthesized version
which you hear during the parade was arranged and performed by Don Dorsey,
noted synthesizer performer.
The introduction, as the music starts:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls
Disneyland proudly presents
Our spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and
imagination
In thousands of sparkling lights and electro-syntho-magnetic
musical sounds
The Main Street Electrical Parade!"
Incidentally, you can request a summary of the parade with a
description of each of the floats from Disneyland Guest Relations via mail.
(Unfortunately, I lost my summary, but it was probably out of date anyway,
as the parade changes slightly on an annual basis.)
The soundtrack to the Main Street Electrical Parade is available on at
least three different albums: the Fantasmic! soundtrack (Disneyland Records
and Tapes, DIDX 013173); the "Music of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and
EPCOT Center" soundtrack (Disneyland Records and Tapes, CD-007); and "The
Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song," which is the 3 CD boxed set. The
Fantasmic! soundtrack's version is the most complete by far.
14) What is SpectroMagic at Walt Disney World?
SpectroMagic at WDW is the successor to the Main Street Electrical
Parade. It use fiber optics and live costumed actors and, like the Main
Street Electrical Parade, features floats of varying themes. Opinions on
SpectroMagic being better than the Electrical Parade vary.
15) What is Fantasmic! at Disneyland? How do I beat the crowds?
Fantasmic! is somewhat like a stage show, but with dazzling
pyrotechnics. It is performed nightly at the south end of Tom Sawyer's
Island (you can't miss it- just look for the thousands of people standing
around at show time). There are individual sequences with various themes
from Disney's history, with particular emphasis on the animated films.
These sequences are tied together by the main plot of Mickey's imagination
being overrun by the evil forces of Queen Maleficent (from Sleeping
Beauty), Ursula (The Little Mermaid), the Queen from Snow White, among
others. To date, it has been extremely popular, making it difficult to
obtain a good view.
Incidentally, there is a Fantasmic! soundtrack available, which also
includes the full soundtrack to the Main Street Electrical Parade (it's
more up to date than the version included on the "Music of Disneyland, Walt
Disney World, and EPCOT Center" album released in 1990). Unfortunately,
the only place I've seen this sold is at Disneyland itself, but if anyone
reading this knows where else it can be found off the shelf, drop me a
line. You can order the soundtrack from Disneyland Merchandise Services,
at (800)-362-4533.
(The following was integrated from the Disneyland FAQ.)
To appreciate Fantasmic! it's recommended that you get there early and
endure the wait. All show times are very popular, but later shows are
slightly less congested. One technique is to be near the Haunted Mansion
when one of the earlier shows ends. Move toward the water, then join the
crowd as they exit the area. When you get front and center, sit down and
relax.
Guests near the river are required to sit on the pavement and
strollers are not allowed or must be broken down here. Guests farther back
are required to stand and may have strollers. They do occasionally let
people stand on the Art Gallery balcony, but VIPs get priority. A line for
the balcony forms at the snack shop by the Pirates of the Caribbean
entrance. I've also heard that standing on the bridge is also good. A
front view is best, but side views are not bad. The more important factor
is whether or not you can see over, around, or through the people in front
of you.
Be prepared to deal with angry people who lose their patience waiting.
I've seen a few lost tempers. As crazy as it may seem, the cast members
directing you into and out of the area *are* generally pointing you in the
best direction, so cutting under ropes and around the ushers won't help
much.
16) What is a "Character Breakfast"?
A "Character Breakfast" is a breakfast held at specific locations
early in the day where you (and your kids, of course) have the opportunity
to eat breakfast while meeting popular Disney characters. They are held at
different locations (listed below). Some locations need a reservation in
advance. They do cost a little extra (around $10 for adults), but kids
under 3 eat free, and kids 3-11 eat at reduced children's rates (around
$6-7). All of the characters come and visit every table, so there is no
pushing and shoving to meet them. There are also Character Brunches and
Dinners, also included below. Young kids generally *love* these.
Location Time Notes
Contemporary 8-11 am No reservations
Resort:
Contemporary
Cafe (WDW)
Disney Beach Club: 7:30-11 am No reservations
Cape May
Restaurant (WDW)
Dolphin Hotel: Th, Su 8:30a- Reservations: (407)-934-4085
Ristorante 12:30p
Carnevale (WDW)
Grand Floridian: 7:30-noon Reservations: (407)-824-2383
1900 Park Fare
(Breakfast)
Grand Floridian: 5-9 pm Reservations: (407)-824-2383.
1900 Park Fare $18 adults, $9 children.
(Dinner)
Pleasure Island: 8:30 am Reservations: (407)-934-7639
Empress Lilly seating,
Riverboat (WDW) 10:30 am
seating
Polynesian Resort: 7:30-10:30 Reservations: (407)-824-1391
Tangaroa Terrace am
(WDW)
Stargate Restaurant until 11 am Counter-eatery; no
(EPCOT) reservations; not
necessary to purchase
anything
Swan Hotel: Garden W, Sa 8-11 No reservations. Info:
Grove (WDW) am (407)-934-1281
Tomorrowland 7:30-10 am Exclusive to those who get
Terrace, in WDW this as part of a package;
early admission to park
with voucher
WDW Village: Chef 5:30-10 pm Better than average food, but
Mickey's Village you only get to meet
Restaurant Mickey.
Disneyland Hotel, 7:30-10 am Contact the hotel for exact
Disneyland information
Plaza Inn, 7:30-10 am No reservations
Disneyland
This information is probably incomplete, as I suspect WDW/Disneyland
change their schedules and add and delete locations. It might be a good
idea to check with your hotel (if it's a Disney resort) or the Guest
Relations of the park you will be visiting (see question #99 in part 1 of
the FAQ for phone numbers).
17) What is the Disney Vacation Club?
The Disney Vacation Club is a like a time-sharing resort.
Essentially, you purchase a certain amount of points, then use those points
to stay at Disney Vacation Homes on the Walt Disney World property. The
minimum buy-in is currently 230 points at $56 per point (or $12,880) as of
November, 1992. Where you stay and what time of year you go determines how
many points you use- you can choose a studio (sleeps 4), a one (sleeps 4)
or two (sleeps 8) bedroom houses, or a Grand Villas.(sleeps 12). It is up
to you to choose where and when to go (reservations are required, of
course). You may also stay at selected Walt Disney World hotels as well.
If you'd like a copy of some articles discussing the DVC (which were
previously used to answer this question in the FAQ) send me e-mail at
tanida@esosun.css.gov.
You can get more information by calling (800)-800-9100, or (407)-WDW-3100
(the latter if you in Florida) between 7 am and 5 pm ET, seven days a week.
You can also write to:
Disney Vacation Club at
The Walt Disney World Resort
6751 Forum Drive Suite 220
Orlando, FL 32821-9900
If you call or write, you can request to receive brochures, which include
floor plans, complete tables with the point allocations.
18) What are some good guide books on travel to Walt Disney
World/Disneyland?
Guide books can be found in the Travel section of your favorite
bookstore. They are generally grouped under the California (for
Disneyland) or Florida (for WDW) sections, which is under "domestic
travel."
The best all around guide for planning your trip and finding good
advice is probably one of the The Unofficial Guide books by Bob Sehlinger.
(In fact, a lot of the information in this part of the FAQ was derived from
these books.) The Fodor's travel guide is not very useful, except perhaps
for restaurants in the area. The "Official" guide books are OK as
references to the various services at the parks and have some trivia about
the rides that might be interesting reading while standing in line.
Birnbaum, Steve, Guide to Disneyland
Avon Books, updated yearly
Birnbaum, Steve, Guide to Walt Disney World
Avon Books, updated yearly
ISBN: 0-380-71004-8
Labeled as the "official" Disney sanctioned guide
Ritz, Stacy, Disney World and Beyond
Ulysses Press
ISBN 0-915233-37-1
Sehlinger, Bob, The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland
Prentice Hall Press, updated yearly
Sehlinger, Bob, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
Prentice Hall Press, updated yearly
ISBN 0-13-951047-8
Thorough, including sections on preparations for kids, evaluations of every
ride, and clever strategies for waiting in line. A must get.
Wiley, Kim Wright, Walt Disney World With Kids
Prima Publishing
ISBN 1-55958-140-9
Another good one for those going to WDW with children. Written by an
experienced mom.
19) What are "Hidden Mickeys"? Where can I find some?
Hidden Mickeys, found at the theme parks, are simply Mickey Mouse
images, either the "mouse ear" pattern or a full figure, that exist in
places you normally wouldn't notice them unless you were looking. They
were brought to wide-scale attention in the Winter 1991 Disney News, which
featured "the Secrets of Walt Disney World." Some examples given in this
article include: Mickey ears on the manhole covers; a Mickey constellation
in the geosphere of Starship Earth; a Mickey in the mural of Body Wars;
Mouse ears on one of the Vikings in Norway's Maelstrom attraction in the
World Showcase; and a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter in one of the baskets in
front of one of the worker droids in Star Tours.
Stan Sroka, at sroka@evax.gdc.com, has been keeping lists of Hidden
Mickeys for both theme parks. Send him e-mail for the latest list, and be
sure to send him your contributions/discoveries as well.
Section III- Other lists, available upon request:
1) Technical errors in Disney animated feature films
2) List of Jungle Cruise jokes
3) Misc trivia